Grandparent scams are making the rounds again in our community.
Today we talked with a concerned grandparent who received a suspicious call about their grandchild being in jail and needing money. This is a common scam that is targeting our elderly community members. The grandchild in jail scam is just one version of this common fraud scheme. These scams come in a variety of forms and can be very convincing. If you receive one of these calls, it is important to resist the temptation to panic. Take a deep breath. Don’t provide personal information. Call a family member or friend to seek help in verifying what you were told on the phone. By all means, call the police department where you live and seek advice. Many times the caller will tell you not to tell anyone about the call you just received. This is a clue that something is not on the up and up.
If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, you can report these crimes in Marshalltown by calling our 24/7 non-emergency number, 641.754.5725.
Check out this link to an article posted by the Federal Trade Commission related to these types of crimes.
Here is another helpful resource from AARP.
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2018/grandparent-scam-scenarios.html
If you have questions about this issue, please contact Chief of Police Michael Tupper via email at mtupper@marshalltown-ia.gov or by phone at 641.754.5771.