Rye Police Investigate $10K 'Grandparent Scam' Over Holiday Weekend

RYE, NY —The City of Rye Police Department is investigating a theft from a senior citizen who has been scammed into giving away thousands of dollars after being convinced their grandchild needed money to be bailed out of jail.

The City of Rye Police Department received a report late Friday about the nationwide scam hitting close to home. In this case, police said the scammers stole $10,000 from their victim.

Commonly known as the "Grandparent Scam," police say this case is similar to a slew of other cases that have been reported in other parts of New York and across the country in recent years.

In most of the reported cases, the suspect calls a senior citizen and claims to be one of their grandchildren who have been involved in a car crash or some other legal trouble and were arrested. The person on the phone provides the victim with a phone number for an attorney and asks the victim to contact them.

The person posing as a lawyer convinces the victims that their respective grandchildren need a large sum of money, all in cash, to be bailed out of jail. Once the victim goes to the bank to withdraw the funds, the suspect or an accomplice often goes to the victim's home to pick up the money in person.

Investigators said that actual law enforcement and court representatives would never come to a residence in order to collect bail money.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are steps that can be taken to avoid becoming a victim of this particular scam:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
• Verify the caller’s identity. Ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
• Don’t send cash, gift cards or money transfers; once the scammer gets the money, then it’s gone for good.
• Most importantly, contact your local police. Most jurisdictions are happy to help verify the authenticity of the caller.

Police say that while the so-called "grandparents scam" gets its name because the elderly are often targeted, anyone can fall victim to this con, or any others that rely on concern for loved ones to keep those who are being conned from taking the time to make informed decisions. If in doubt, hang up and call police.

See Also:

• New Rochelle Police Make Arrest In Connection With 'Grandparent' Scam
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• Rye Police Warn About ConEd Scam Targeting Westchester Residents