Phone Scam Targets Malibu Grandparents

Malibu grandparents were asked to be on alert this week for a phone scam targeting the area.

The scam targets elderly people by asking them to send money for bail for a grandchild that was out of the country and involved in an accident or arrest, according to Lt. James Royal of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Anyone who is a victim of one of these scams or has any information was asked to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

The sheriff's department advises those receiving suspicious phone calls to report them to their local law enforcement office and makes the following recommendations to keep from getting taken advantage of:

• Always know who you are talking to and get information on the business and a call back number.
• Never provide your confidential information, such as date of birth, social security number, or bank account numbers.
• Discontinue transactions if someone coaches you on how to send money or respond to questions from money order service employees.
• Always check with other family members when a suspect calls and poses as a family member requesting money and call the family member the officials are talking about.