It’s a simple scam, as many are – an elderly person gets a call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or a young relative needing money immediately, with a plea of “don’t tell my parents”. The victim scrambles, the money is sent by wire transfer and gone forever. Attorney General Mike Dewine says his office has had 94 complaints this year, totaling $290,000. But he says the real numbers are much higher.
“Most people who have this scam committed against them never call the Attorney General’s office, some never report it at all, some are too embarrassed to report it.”
DeWine says scammers use information they find online to zero in on their victims.
Joe Patton of Columbus lost more than $6,500 to a man posing as his grandnephew, claiming he was in jail in Texas.
“I missed a dozen or more easily opportunities to have prevent this from happening had I known what these gentlemen and ladies have talked about,” says Patton.
DeWine says the request to keep the transfer secret should be a red flag. The AG suggests verifying the caller’s identity independently, starting with asking a question only a family member could answer. And Dewine wants people who get these calls to report them to police or to his office.