Salem Police Issue Latest 'Grandparent Scam' Warning To Seniors

SALEM, MA — The Salem Police Department is the latest on the North Shore issuing a warning to residents about a rise in the so-called "grandparent scam" that targets the elderly and could result in thousands of dollars lost.

Two weeks ago, the Marblehead Police Department issued a similar warning that was posted at local banks and shipping businesses. The MPD asked employees of those businesses to consider intervening if it appears a senior citizen may be withdrawing or wiring money in a way that suggests they may be scam victims.

Salem police asked residents to be careful of posting online the type of information that is often used by scammers to make it appear they are with a grandchild or younger relative who is in trouble, has been in an accident, or is stuck in a foreign country, and needs money urgently.

"These callers are well-versed in the art of the scam and will sound sincere," Salem police said, "The scammer will give just enough detail about where and how the emergency happened to make it seem plausible. In the majority of these types of cases, the scammer will implore the grandparent not to tell their parents and will stress the need to keep the matter secret."

The scammer will often ask that money be sent in the former of a wire transfer or gift card. Money sent to scammers is almost always non-recoverable.

* Resist the urge to act immediately — don't panic no matter how serious or dire the situation may sound; don't let the caller rush you into making a decision. The scammer wants to keep you distracted.
* Don't engage with the caller or the text - call the family or grandchild directly (on a known number) to confirm the story.
* Don't give out your address, personal information, bank account or credit card details.
* Don't drop your guard because the number on your caller ID looks familiar — scammers use tricks to make it appear that they’re calling from a trusted number.
* Check your privacy settings on social media and be mindful of what information you put online. Scammers use this publicly available information in furtherance of their scams.

Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to a "grandparent scam" is asked to report it to the Salem Police Department at 978-745-9700.

"Do not feel embarrassed," Salem police said. "These fraudsters have perfected their scam."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)