Rep. Mike Coffey | Courtesy photo
Rep. Mike Coffey | Courtesy photo
Illinois State Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) has warned his constituents about a scam that's resurfaced in Sangamon County and other parts of Illinois that is targeting unsuspecting grandparents.
Coffey shared information about the latest scam in a Wednesday Facebook post.
"The 'Grandparent Scam' is affecting victims in Sangamon and surrounding counties, targeting older individuals," Coffey wrote.
According to the FBI, the grandparent scam involves a grandparent receiving a phone call or email stating their grandchild has been arrested outside the U.S. and needs money to be released. Scammers also ask the grandparent not to tell any other family members.
The FBI noted the scam has been around for a while. The agency has received reports about it for about 15 years, but it's become more sophisticated. "Thanks to the Internet and social networking sites, a criminal can sometimes uncover personal information about their targets, which makes the impersonations more believable," the FBI stated.
Coffey shared a link to a WANDTV article about this particular scam. The Springfield FBI office knows there are local victims. The news outlet reported on the scam that happened in Central Illinois, where the scammer claims a loved one has been detained by law enforcement after being involved in a car accident with a pregnant woman.
The victim will then get a second call from a faux attorney that claims money is needed for their loved one's release and details about the case could not be shared because of a gag order. "The scammer schedules an in-person pick-up to collect the money, and someone acting as a money mule arrives at the victim’s residence to retrieve the funds,” WANDTV reported.
ABC20 shared a few tips from the FBI to protect one’s self and family from these calls. The outlet warned about numbers that appear familiar on caller ID because "scammers may use technology to disguise the actual number they are calling from and make it appear as a trusted number.” They also advised caution when posting online since scammers can use information shared on social media platforms to make their claims more believable.
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