Scam targets grandmothers

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by Dorothy Markulis

Reporter

Hudson -- Con artists are targeting sympathetic grandmothers in the area, according to Hudson Police Detective Kaija Jeantet.

"The scammers are alive and well and their targets are people with college age grandchildren," Jeantet said.

According to Jeantet, two grandmothers in Hudson each received a phone call from a male pretending to be their grandson. Each was scammed out of more than $1,000.

The first incident was about a year ago. The second incident was in February.

Jeantet said the scenario was the same.

"The caller says 'Grandma, I got into some trouble and I need your help.' Then they ask grandma to not tell their parents because they want to tell them in person," Jeantet said.

Jeantet said the scammer then tells his "grandma" he is in jail in Canada because he was fishing on an Indian reservation without a license and needs $1,800 for bail bonds.

"They ask specifically for a money gram, and when grandma wires the money, it's gone. There's no way to get it back," Jeantet said.

Jeantet said the department's investigations cannot pinpoint how the scammers are picking their victims.

"There may be many grandmothers who have been contacted and not reported it," she said.

Jeantet said this scam has been perpetrated in other areas of the country, including a recent incident reported in Nashville, Tenn.

Last year's Hudson victim was scammed twice, according to Jeantet. After sending the $1,800 to Canada, her "grandson" thanked her for the money then asked for $1,500 more to get home from Canada.

"The third time he called, she got wise and contacted us," Jeantet said.

The victim last month balked at sending money the second time after she sent the first $1,800 and called her son, who reported her grandson was never in Canada. Then she went to the police.

"If anyone calls and says they were fishing in Canada and needs bail, verify their whereabouts with someone else in the family," Jeantet said.

E-mail: dmarkulis@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3143