Grandma/Grandpa Scam / Theft by Deception

DATE & TIME: 12-14-2016 and 12-21-2016 / 1100 hours

 LOCATION: Pickrell and rural Gage County           

OFFENSE: Theft by Deception / Fraud (Grandma/Grandpa Scam)

CASE #: 2016-6813      

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office has received reports from residents of fraudulent activity in the form of the “Grandma/Grandpa” scam.  The resident receives a telephone call and the person calling will say “Grandma” or “Grandpa”, depending on who answers, then will tell an elaborate story of being a passenger in a car that was stopped by the police and subsequently arrested because the driver had drugs in their vehicle. 

The “grandchild” then tells their grandparent they need bond money and another male takes over the conversation and identifies himself as a police officer or sergeant with the police.  In the most recent cases, the “sergeant or officer” tells the grandparent to go to Target and obtain Target Gift cards for $2,000.00 each.  The grandparent/victim is then told to call back to a different number with the Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the back of the card.

The resident in Pickrell, Nebraska immediately believed the phone call to be fraudulent and came to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office to report the incident.  They did not lose any money in the incident and an investigator with the sheriff’s office advised them to tell the suspects they are aware of the scam if they call back.

The resident in rural Gage County drove to Lincoln, obtained two Target gift cards for $2,000.00 each, and called the suspects back, giving them the information.  The Target gift cards were cashed out almost immediately at a Target store in Lodi, California.  The victim called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office a day later and reported the scam.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office is currently working with the Lodi Police Department on obtaining suspect information and security video footage from the store.

Anyone receiving suspicious calls should immediately call the Gage County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.  The Gage County Sheriffs’ Office also maintains a website at http://www.gagecountysheriff.us/, which offers a link to the Federal Trade Commission.  The Federal Trade Commission website offers additional assistance and reporting options.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310