Couple Outlines How They Were Almost Scammed

All Jim and Dorothy wanted to do was help their grandson. He needed $2,800 fast and they nearly gave it to him. Except the person who they thought was their grandson was trying to scam them out of their money.

The Wayne couple, who requested their last name not be used to protect their identities, were nearly the victim of what's often called a "Grandparent Scam." Grandparent Scams typically begin with an urgent phone call to an unsuspecting senior citizen claiming to be the victim's grandchild or a police officer. The scammer will say that their grandchild is in jail or hurt and needs hundreds or thousands of dollars immediately. They ask that the unsuspecting fraud targets not tell anyone else that they called.

Jim spoke about the incident at a press conference at the Home Sweet Home Adult Medical Daycare facility in Elizabeth Wednesday morning. The room was filled with senior citizens, who intently listened to Jim's story. 

Jim said that the caller pretended to be his grandson. He said he was at a wedding in Canada, where he drank a small amount of alcohol, and was driving and was involved in a car accident. He was then arrested and booked for driving under the influence and needed the money.

Jim said the caller stated that he would tell his mother everything once he was out of jail.

"He stated that he needed $2,800 in bail money, lawyer's fees, and car damages and that he needed the money in two to three hours," Jim said. "My wife said to the caller 'it doesn't sound like you.' Our grandson, or so we thought, said: 'Grandma, I need your help'."

Donna, Jim and Dorothy's daughter, was visiting them and mentioned to them that it could be a scam. She immediately called the Wayne Police Department and informed them of what happened.

"When I was on the phone with the caller, he mentioned specific facts about our family," Jim said. "He knew the names of our family friends. He even had an explanation as to why he sounded different, that he broke his nose. It seems all the information the scammers needed was online."

Scammers will often obtain detailed information about a senior citizen or a couple through a social networking Web page and create an elaborate story about what happened to them, such as being arrested for drunk driving and needed money for bail or an injury.

New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow announced a joint effort between her office, the state's Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Consumer Federation of America to combat these scams at the press conference Wednesday.

"When you send money through a wire service, it is very similar to just giving them cash and it is virtually impossible to get that money back," said Attorney General Dow. "They know how to prey on your emotions and they pretend to lean on you for the support you can give them.

"They will prey upon you because you are loving and caring. They will prey upon you because you have something they want, they will prey upon you because you are old. But you can fight back with the knowledge you have learned."

Detective Dennis Ferray, the officer who helped Jim and Dorothy, said residents should immediately ask the caller several questions if they suspect a scam may be occurring. 

"Call the person the caller claims to be to see if he or she is telling the truth," Ferray said. "These scammers will ask a lot of open-ended questions and it's easy to be tricked into thinking they are the person who they claim to be."

Residents who suspect they may have been the target of a Grandparents Scam should call the Wayne Police Detective Bureau at 973-633-3530. For information about the Division of Consumer Affairs' Senior FedUp Fraud Education and Protection Program click here. For more information about the Consumer Federation of America, click here.

"If it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone," Jim said.