Alert Retail Employees Save Seniors From 'Grandparent Scam'

PALOS PARK, IL -- Alert retail employees saved two seniors from becoming fraud victims, after they bought numerous gift cards to spring their grandchildren out of jail. Palos Park police are following on two occurrences of this senior scam that occurred Nov. 28.

According to police, a Palos Park woman was contacted by phone, which caller ID indicated was coming from the “Aurora Police Department.” The caller indicated that the woman’s grandson was in police custody, but because of a court ordered “gag order,” the caller was only allowed to say that her grandson needed $500 in gift cards to bond him out of jail. (SUBSCRIBE: Get Real-Time Alerts and a Daily Newsletter for Palos.)

The woman went to the Orland Hills Walmart and secured the gift cards, but she was advised by Walmart employees that she was falling victim to a scam. The woman left Walmart and contacted the Palos Park Police Department.

In the second incident, a senior persisted in buy $500 worth of gift cards, despite being told by Walgreens and Jewel employees that she was being taken by the grandparent scam, police said.

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, only about 8 percent of victims report the grandparent scam, when the caller posing as their grandchild says there’s an emergency and to send money in a hurry.

Scammers are well versed in what they do. Here's a few tips on how to avoid them:

Social Media Reconnaissance – Scammers do their homework on your family, checking social media profiles and other online sources to learn grandchildren’s names, and sometimes even their travel plans.

Intimidation – Con artists use scare tactics to intimidate grandparents into paying quickly. They might imply that the grandchild is in physical danger or living in bad conditions in a jail overseas.

Wire Transfers – Scammers typically ask grandparents to send a wire transfer. With a reference number and a phony ID, they can retrieve that money anywhere. Because wiring money is like sending cash, once the grandparent sends it, they can’t get it back.