Grandparent Scam Makes Return To Pinellas County

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County seniors are being warned that emergency phone calls from their grandchildren may actually be clever ruses meant to part them from their money. After receiving five reports from “Grandparent Scam” victims in the past month alone, deputies are urging residents across the county to be wary.

The so-called grandparent scam involves a telephone call during which a victim is told his or her grandchild has been injured or arrested. In either event, the caller, who will pose as the grandchild or a friend, will request money to pay the hospital or for bail. Grandparents, deputies say, are instructed to buy gift cards from retail stores and then provide the PIN number so cash can be accessed.

“The suspect immediately withdraws the money from the gift card using the PIN number,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. “The victims later discover their grandchild was never injured or arrested. Furthermore, the money is not available and in most cases untraceable.”

People who receive such calls are advised to check in directly with their grandchildren or other family members before rushing out to buy gift cards. The sheriff’s office also says residents should never give out gift card PIN numbers over the phone without verifying for certain who the other person is on the line.

Anyone with information about this scam or who has been targeted is asked to call Cpl. Detective K. Frazho at the sheriff’s office at 727-582-6200.

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