Crime & Safety
"Grandson" Scam Targets Seniors
Updated with news from the Napa Valley Register: An Upvalley woman lost $6,000 to a scam phone caller. Earlier on Napa Patch: City police say three people reported similar calls, and warn residents not to send money without verifying the facts.
Updated Jan. 27: Although we haven't had any reports of city residents victimized by the scam, an Upvalley woman was less fortunate: She wired $6,000 to an imposter, according to this report in the .
Earlier:
The phone rings. A voice says it's your favorite grandson, calling from jail in New Mexico or Philadelphia, needing bail money right away.
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Do you help him?
Not before checking with jail authorities and/or other family members, says Sgt. Amy Hunter of the .
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Hunter called Napa Patch Wednesday afternoon to warn that scammers are again targeting local seniors with the "grandson" ploy, in which the caller pretends to be a grandchild in trouble in order to get money from trusting seniors.
Wednesday alone, Napa police received three reports from local residents who said they'd gotten such calls, Hunter said.
None of them had fallen for the pitch, but Hunter said the scammers will likely continue making the calls in the hope of finding a willing victim.
To report a scam call to Napa police, telephone (707) 257-9223.
