Grandparents Scammed Out Of $850 In Hackettstown

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Two grandparents who thought they were helping their grandson were scammed out of $850 in Hackettstown last week, police said.

It's what's known as a "grandparent scam," and it's a common tactic scammers use to prey on older Americans. In this case, someone called the couple saying he was their grandson and needed $850 for legal fees stemming from a car crash. Another person got on the phone and claimed he was the grandson's lawyer.

The scammers told the grandparents to keep the legal troubles a secret from the rest of the family, and the grandparents wired $850 to an address in Miami. Only once the grandparents talked to other family members did they realize it was a scam.

Police shared some tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Beware of any urgent solicitation of funds, especially if it is needed to pay for unexpected bills, such as bail money, lawyer’s fees, or doctor bills
• Before sending funds, independently contact the relative (or parent of the relative) the scam artist is claiming to be (or represent) at a known phone number to verify the details of the story.
• Scam artist’s payment method of choice is the wire transfer. Any urgent request to wire money should be treated suspiciously.
• Be aware that fraudsters attempting the Grandparent Scam may call late at night to confuse potential victims.
• People who have been victims of this scam should immediately report it to local law enforcement.

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