TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Calls From Canada Picking Pasco Pockets

ADVERTISEMENT

By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Most people have heard of the Nigerian scams. There's something similar - Canadian-style - now beckoning Pasco County residents, sheriff's officials say.

As is usually the case in such schemes, the targets are senior citizens, though no one is immune.

In recent months, at least a half-dozen cases have been reported to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and, most recently, two victims lost a total of more than $6,000.

Here's an example of how it typically plays out:

The phone rings and an unsuspecting resident answers.

"Hello?"

"Hey Grandma, this is your grandson."

"Billy?"

"Yeah, it's Billy."

"I'm up here in Canada, and I got into an accident and I need some money quick. Can you wire it up here?"

The relationship might change or the scenario might be different. But sheriff's officials say the idea is for the caller to convince someone they're related and desperately need money because of a hardship. The result, according to the sheriff's office, is someone gets bilked out of money they likely won't see again.

"They prey on the elderly," former sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin said recently.

One Trinity couple - a 78-year-old man and 82-year-old woman - fell for a similar scenario. A man called and convinced them he was their grandson, and they wired $5,500 to Toronto. After the money was wired, the scam artist called them back to get the tracking number.

The couple didn't know they had been scammed until their real grandson visited a few weeks later.

About the same time, an 82-year-old Zephyrhills woman got a call from a young man.

"Hi Gram!" the caller said, "It's me, your favorite grandson."

"Jonathan?" she inquired.

"Yes, it's me, Jonathan."

Like the other caller, this one told the woman he had been in a car wreck in Canada and needed money for a rental car.

She wired $1,000 to Canada. A few days later, according to a sheriff's office report, the woman called her grandson to confirm he received the money and it was then she discovered the truth.

"They're going after people who really aren't suspecting to be part of a scam," Tobin said.

Sheriff's officials suggest always verifying a caller's identity, especially if they're asking for money. Try not to give away personal information, such as a relative's name. Instead of calling the person by a relative's name, ask "Which grandson?"

Call other relatives to see whether they can help before sending money.

Those who fall for the scam likely won't get the money back, as it's difficult to develop a suspect, especially if authorities are dealing with different countries, Tobin said.

"Generally, the money is lost," he said.
Tobin suggested discussing such scams with older relatives to make sure they know people are making random calls. If they have received a suspicious phone call or have lost money to a schemer, report it to authorities.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT