Maryland State Police warning senior citizens to be wary of “grandparent scams”

MARYLAND – Maryland State Police are asking seniors to be wary of what they’re calling “grandparent scams”.

The way the scheme works, is scammers will call seniors, claiming to be one of their grandchildren. The scammer will then say they have been involved in a car crash or some other legal trouble, and need bail money. Scammers can also call, posing as a lawyer, to convince the victim that their grandchild needs a large sum of cash for bail. Sometimes, the scammers will even show up at the victim’s house to collect the cash.

Lt. Christopher Davala at MSP Salisbury Barrack says while this isn’t happening in our area right now, it has happened before. MSP says law enforcement or judicial personnel will never come to your house to collect bail money. Plus, there are some tips that you can follow to avoid falling victim to a scam.

Police say you should resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the scammer’s story is. Plus, victims should try to verify the caller’s identity. Police say you can do that by asking questions that a stranger could not answer. You can also call a family member or friend to verify the story, even if you’ve been asked to keep it a secret. It’s also recommended that you should never send cash, gift cards, or money transfers. Police say once the scammer gets a hold of that money, you’ll never see it again.

To avoid scams in general, police say you should not give our personal information to someone you do not know. You are also encouraged to keep personal information and documents in a safe place. Collecting mail on a daily basis, and putting a hold on it during travel, is also recommended.

Police say you should also use security features on your electronic devices, and to use complex passwords. Overall, police say you should just trust your instincts; if you think you are being scammed, you probably are.