Grandparents Scam On The Rise In Middlesex County: Prosecutor

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is warning residents against the rise in grandparent scams across the county.

This scam has been on the rise in recent weeks and on Jan. 23 the South Plainfield Police Department arrested two people for scamming an elderly person of $6,000, the Prosecutor's office said.

The elderly person was made to believe his grandson needed bail money. After receiving the payment, the scammers requested an additional $5,000, authorities said.

Scammers often pose as a grandchild and explain in a frantic-sounding voice that he or she is in trouble. They will say there was an accident, an arrest, or a robbery. The caller may also pose as an attorney or law enforcement officer calling on behalf of a grandchild in trouble, authorities said.

The Prosecutor's office has shared the following tips to help safeguard your family from such scams:

• Do not get flustered, take time to think. The scammer will make the situation seem urgent to pressure you.
• Do not confirm any personal or financial information. Scammers fish for facts to utilize to their benefit. If the caller says, “It’s me, Grandpa!,” don’t reply and say your grandchild’s name.
• Verify who is calling and offer to call back using the phone number you have. Scammers often use programs to appear as if they call from a trusted number.
• Call someone you trust or the police for an opinion. Scammers will say they don’t want anyone to know because they are embarrassed.
• Do not send any cash, wire money, or provide numbers from gift cards or cash-reload cards to a person claiming to be your grandchild. Trust bank employees that warn you that you may be a victim of a scam.
• Call 911 or the local police department if you believe you are being scammed.
• If you sent money to a scammer via Western Union, call the company’s fraud hotline at 800-448-1492. If you used MoneyGram, call 800-926-9400. If the transfer has not yet been paid, they may be able to stop the transaction and refund your money.

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