'Grandparent Scam' Increasingly Targeting Upper Merion Area

UPPER MERION, PA — Police warn that elderly residents have increasingly become the target of the "Grandparent Scam" in the Upper Merion area.

According to authorities, the scam involves the suspect calling or emailing the victim and pretending to be either a relative or a lawyer or a cop representing the relative, in need of help.

The suspect then says that the relative needs money for bail, lawyer's fees, hospital bills, or another made up expense, officials said. The suspect even warns the grandparent not to tell anyone because the "grandchild" doesn't want anyone to know about the trouble they are in.

Policeoffer the following tips:

• Beware of any urgent solicitation of funds, especially if it is needed to pay for unexpected bills, such as bail money, lawyer’s fees, or doctor bills
• Before sending funds, independently contact the relative (or parent of the relative) the scam artist is claiming to be (or represent) at a known phone number to verify the details of the story
• The scam artist's payment method of choice is the wire transfer. Any urgent request to wire money should be treated suspiciously
• Be aware that fraudsters attempting the Grandparent Scam may call late at night to confuse potential victims
• Consumers who have been victims of this scam should immediately report it to local law enforcement, their state attorney general and NCL’s Fraud Center at Fraud.org

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