Waterford Police Warn Residents of Grandparents Phone Scam

WATERFORD, CT – Police have taken to social media to warn residents of a phone scam they investigate with regularity, dubbed a "Grandparents Scam."

Police said on Facebook the scam has many variations. It involves a person calling and claiming to be a relative who has been arrested or lost a passport, wallet or something else.

The scammer will say they need money immediately wired to them to get out of jail or return home. The "relative" also usually requests other family members not be contacted.

If the caller claims to be a grandchild, they will ask that their parents not be called. Sometimes the caller will use a bad telephone connection or claim they are sick to mask their voices.

Police encourage anyone who receives this type of call to contact the relative themselves and under no circumstances wire any money in this situation. No United States law enforcement will allow a person in custody to leave and get money from an authorized money wiring business and then return.

Any resident who has been a victim of this scam is asked to contact police immediately.

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