CSB Closing Early on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 for Staff Training
We value the importance of lifelong learning and financial literacy. For this reason, we will be closing all locations at 3 PM on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, for staff training. Thank you for your understanding! Please keep a lookout for additional training dates throughout 2024.
Grandparents often have a hard time saying no to their grandchildren, which is something scam artists know all too well.
Scammers who gain access to consumers' personal information – by mining social media or purchasing data from cyber thieves – are creating storylines to prey on the fears of grandparents. The scammers then call and impersonate a grandchild in a crisis situation, asking for immediate financial assistance. The callers may “spoof” the caller ID that appears on the recipient's phone to make an incoming call look like it's coming from a trusted source.
In a recent report from the FBI, a caller contacted an elderly person and claimed to be a grandchild who had just been in a serious car accident and arrested for drunk driving. The imposter pressed the grandparent for money to post bond, then passed the phone to someone else who claimed to be the caller's attorney.
That phony attorney told the grandparent to come up with approximately $15,000 in cash and to put it in an envelope to be picked up at their house by a courier at a designated time. When the courier arrived, the unsuspecting grandparent handed over the cash. The FBI reports that these scams may use ride-share companies to retrieve the cash from victims.
Several variations of this con have surfaced over the years. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service recently published an article about grandparent scams, with videos of victims sharing their stories to help raise awareness of this criminal tactic.
The best advice for avoiding this type of scam, or any suspicious phone call, is to hang up immediately. If you have caller ID and you don't recognize an incoming phone number, just let it go to voicemail.
If you do wind up in a conversation, use caution if you are being pressured for information or to send money quickly. Scammers often try to bully victims into transferring money through a mobile payment app, by wiring money, or by purchasing gift cards or money orders. If you receive a call like this, report it immediately to local law enforcement.
One of the best deterrents against scam artists is awareness. The Federal Communications Commission offers consumer guides on spoofed caller ID and illegal robocalls, with additional tips and web resources for call-blocking apps and services. You can also check out consumer awareness posts about scams targeting older Americans from the Better Business Bureau, or find out about scams near where you live using the AARP's Scam-Tracking Map.
File a complaint
Consumers can file complaints with the FCC about unwanted calls and spoofing. You can also find information on imposter scams and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Article written and published by the Federal Communications Commission.
