We have had recent reports from local law enforcement that a common scam has seen a resurgence in the region in recent weeks, but it has now taken on a new twist. The Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office are issuing a warning about this new element with the common grandparent scam. The Attorney General’s Office says they have been warning Iowans about this particular scam since 2008. But now, when the scammer contacts the elderly person and pretends to be a grandchild that has been involved in an accident, been hospitalized, jailed or is trapped in a foreign county, they are offering to send a courier to pick up the money needed to aid in rectifying the situation. The scammers can be quite convincing as they generally utilize personal information gathered from social media. They may also pair up with another scammer who pretends to be an attorney, a doctor or a member of law enforcement. Family members and friends of elderly individuals are encouraged to educate them about these scams and to provide tips, such as verifying the person’s identity by asking questions only that person could answer. They should resist the urge to act with urgency, but instead contact another family member to help with verification and to never send money or give out their personal information. If a courier does come to their home, they should not answer the door and contact local authorities immediately. Any scam attempt should be reported to local law enforcement and to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
