Watch out: New phone scam targeting grandparents

There’s a new phone scam making the rounds and this time it’s targeting grandparents. Having tried dozens of other sneaky techniques, scammers are now trying to convince grandparents their grandkids are in trouble and need money to get out of a sticky situation.

So far they’ve targeted thousands of Americans, prompting calls for grandparents from other countries to take care and avoid becoming a victim.

A recent instance in America involved a Louisiana woman who received a phone call from a young girl claiming to be her granddaughter, KLFY-TV reports. 

Typical of these types of scams, the girl cried “grandma!” down the phone when the woman answered the call. While the distressed cry has tricked many grandparents into thinking their beloved grandchild is on the other end of the line, this quick-thinking grandma “immediately grew suspicious” since all her grandchildren were boys.

She told KLFY-TV she decided to play along and the scammer explained on the phone how she was in a car accident and needed help. When asked why she sounded different, the girl said the paramedics had put cotton buds up her nose to stop the bleeding and that’s why the grandmother might not recognise her voice.

The grandma said she asked, “is this Morgan?” to which the girl replied, “yes”. Trying to catch her out, the grandma then asked, “what’s Morgan’s last name?”. The scammer quickly hung up the phone. 

Read more: The ATO robot phone scam that’s so bad it’s laughable

According to the TV station, the call was similar to a known scam that’s been circulating for years. The scammers call homes of older residents claiming to be their grandchildren. The stories vary, but often include tales about the grandchild being in trouble and needing money. 

Often, scammers put on a convincing display because they’ve researched the family on social media and tracked their movements. 

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), 45 per cent of scams in Australia were committed over the phone 2015, and Australians aged 65 and over are the main targets. “Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels across Australia,” the organisation said. 

Read more: ‘Phishing’ scams are on the rise and older Aussies are the target

So, how can you protect yourself from a scam?

ACCC has listed a few ways to protect yourself

• Be alert to the fact the scams exist: When dealing with unknown contacts by phone, email and mail, always consider the possibility that the approach might be a scam. 
• Don’t respond to phone calls about your computer asking for remote access – hang up: Scammers will often ask you to turn on your computer to fix a problem or install a free upgrade, which is actually a virus which will give them access to your personal details. 
• Keep your mobile devices and computers secure: Protect your Wifi network with a password and avoid using public computers or Wifi hotspots to access online banking. 
• Review your privacy and security settings on social media: If you use social sites such as Facebook, be mindful how private your page is and be careful who you connect with. 

Have you ever fallen for a scam? Have you heard of this scam?