'Granny scam' bilks elderly out of millions

[Are_grits_groceries]

The voice over the phone sounded desperate, and a bit familiar, to Betty Carter.

"Grandma," the young man implored. "I'm in trouble in Vancouver, Canada, and I need your help."

Immediately, the 79-year-old Carrollton woman was alarmed enough to overlook the fact that the voice didn't really sound like any of her four grandsons.

"Stephen, is that you?" she asked the caller, supplying the name of her 26-year-old grandson.

The caller replied, "Yes, it's Stephen."

With her grandmotherly instincts on hyper-alert, Carter found herself ensnared in one of the most successful telephone cons going these days: the "the granny scam."

Last year, 435 American grandparents were enticed to wire $2.2 million to Canada for "grandchildren," who were supposed victims of car accidents, under arrest or simply stranded. Their loving gestures averaged $5,083 apiece.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030109dnmetgranny.134aebf.html

These people are evil!

[Bluzmann57]

1. Someone like that called my dad

and not only that, they called his cell phone. He told them "no" because he knows his grandchildren's voices and because he knows where his grandchildren are. But it still angers me, picking on elderly people who love their children and grandchildren unconditionally and would do anything for them if they were in distress.

[annabanana]

2. Thanks for this link. . I've sent it on

to my church group. People have to be aware.

[Sultana]

3. How fucking low

:(