Police: Phone Scams Targeting Grandparents

Criminals are continuing to target residents, especially senior citizens, using phone scams, according to Port Washington Police.

Police said they are still fielding complaints about various types of phone scams with senior citizens being a major target.

Recently, victims have received calls from people claiming to be friends of a grandchild who has been arrested and needs bail money, cops said. Scammers rely on caring grandparents to wire money with few questions asked, police said.

In another scam, the caller pretends to be the grandchild’s attorney and claims they need bail money so they don’t have to spend the night in jail, cops said.

“As a general rule, attorneys do not pay bail. Bail is paid directly to the court or the correctional facility that is holding the individual, not the attorney,” confirmed Brian Griffin, chair of the Nassau County Bar Association Criminal Law Committee, in a statement.

Mortgage scams have also plagued Nassau County residents in recent months and target homeowners looking for loan modifications.

Two women were recently charged with a similar scam where they stole more than $90,000 from victims. Read more here.

Scammers have been targeting residents searching for loan modifications and released the following tips to guard against becoming a victim:

• Do not sign over the deed to your property to any individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company.

• You can apply to the federal Making Home Affordable (MHA) program on your own or with free help from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
• Contact HOPE hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) --To find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you access HUD’s database for Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling.
• Any company claiming to be affiliated with HAMP or displays a logo representing the U.S. Government can be verified by contacting the HOPE hotline 1-888-995-4673.
• Beware of anyone seeking to charge you in advance for mortgage modification services. In most cases, charging fees in advance of for this service is illegal.
• Paying a third party to assist you with your application does NOT improve the likelihood of receiving a mortgage modification.
• To verify any mortgage company or broker you can use the website: www.NMLSconsumeracces.org or www.DFS.NY.GOV