SEQUIM — The Sequim Police Department issued a warning Thursday about what’s called the “grandparent-relative scam,” an effort to bilk seniors out of large amounts of cash.
A 92-year-old man came to the Sequim Police station at 609 W. Washington St. on Tuesday to report a theft of $2,700, Officer Maris Turner said in a statement.
The Sequim resident, who chose to remain anonymous, told police he had received a phone call from a man who called him “Grandpa.”
The caller went on to say that he had been jailed in New York and needed bail money.
MoneyGram
The 92-year-old said he sent it, using MoneyGram, to a New York location — but when he phoned his grandson a few days later, he learned that he was in eastern Washington, not New York, hadn’t been in jail and wasn’t the man who had asked “Grandpa” to bail him out.
“The MoneyGram Web site (www.MoneyGram.com) warns of this type of scam, calling it the grandparent/relative scam,” Turner said.
“MoneyGram warns that the person will be at a loss for the money sent. All that is required to receive or pick up money sent via MoneyGram is the reference number.”
The MoneyGram site’s Consumer Protection link leads to a list of other telephone scams designed to extract money: A “grandchild” or other family member is distraught because he or she has been detained in Canada for not having a fishing license or for catching a protected species of fish or has been in a car wreck and needs help with fines or repairs or needs money for medical care or medication.
Verify caller
Whatever the caller’s reasons, don’t send anyone money without first verifying whom you’re talking to, Turner said.
If caught, the suspect in the Sequim case could be arrested for fraud and/or first-degree theft, she added, but identifying the scammer in such a situation is difficult, since MoneyGram asks only for reference numbers and not identification when someone picks up a money order.
“The case is currently closed due to lack of suspects,” Turner said Thursday afternoon.
“Knowing that solving a case like this is unlikely, our goal is to advise our community about the scam.”
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
