Pasadena police warned the public Friday about a telephone scam targeting seniors, who are told a false story that their grandchild needs money after being in an accident or getting into some other trouble.
“They claim to have been in a car accident, are having trouble returning from a foreign country or they need bail money,” according to a police statement. “You may get a call from two people, one pretending to be your grandchild and the other pretending to be either a police officer or a lawyer.”
Victims are asked for personal information and instructed to wire money through a money transfer company. Sometimes the scam involves pre-paid debit cards, according to police.
Victims often don’t verify the story until it’s too late.
Anyone who has been targeted by such a scheme or knows someone who has been victimized is urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department‘s Financial Crime Unit at (626) 744-4576 .
— City News Service