FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) – Three Kentucky grandparents were robbed of nearly $18,000 recently after falling victim to a “grandparent scam.”
According to a release from the Attorney General’s office, six grandparents in Boyle, Butler, Fayette, Jefferson, Meade and Pulaski counties have reported the scam phone call.
The victims say they received a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild who is in an out-of-state jail and injured after driving under the influence and wrecking.
A second scammer joins the call pretending to be an attorney or law enforcement officer who confirms the story and requests the grandparent immediately wire money or send cash to pay the bail bond.
The fake grandchild then pleads with the grandparent to not tell his or her parents or anyone else.
It is highly unlikely that anyone would call and ask you for money via gift card or wire transfer. If you find yourself receiving one of these calls:
- Never trust anyone who randomly calls and asks you to send money via wire transfer, gift cards, cash or other hard to trace methods of payment.
- Ask the caller questions that only the real grandchild could answer correctly.
- Ask the caller to confirm what state and county jail they are being held and independently contact the jail to confirm.
- Try to call the real grandchild to verify, or call a related family member at a known phone number to confirm the grandchild is traveling.
If you receive a scam call, report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection hotline at 888-432-9257 and complete an online report.
