Grandma Scam (Attempts)

DATE & TIME: 12-19-2018 @ 11:30 am

LOCATION: Rural DeWitt, Nebraska

OFFENSE: Grandma Scam (Attempts)

CASE #: 2018-6261

A resident of rural DeWitt contacted a Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator to report two attempts at the “Grandma Scam”. In this type of fraud, a suspect calls someone, generally someone over the age of sixty, but more likely in their seventies or eighties and after the victim answers the phone, the suspect says, “Grandma? (Or Grandpa)”, and the victim will generally answer with the name of the grandchild they think is calling. The suspect then tells a tale of woe, saying they are in trouble, had an accident, or were mistakenly arrested, but need bail money. They will generally also say they do not want their parents to know about the situation and to keep it a secret.

The DeWitt resident, however was aware of those types of scams and did not provide any personal, financial, or confidential information and hung up on the caller. She has not lost any money on these phone calls, one which came from the phone number 555-244-3335, but she was advised to check her online accounts, bank accounts, and to monitor her mail for any possible identity theft type of crimes.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to use caution when dealing with these type of phone calls and to remember that secrecy about a situation is generally a warning sign. Contact the person you think is calling via your normal method, i.e. call their cell phone or home phone, and ask them about the situation. If you are being contacted and you believe it is a scam, call the local police department or call the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310