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The Grandparents Scam

The call comes at 10 in the morning, frantic and feverish.

Grandma? Is that you?
--Is that you Michael? Are you okay?
No, I'm in jail -- in Canada.
--What? Where?
I was fishing, but without a license, and now I'm jail, and I need $2,900 in bail money, and please don't tell Mom and Dad -- can you help me?

What would you do if this was your grandson? Welcome to the "grandparents scam," a trick as old as the hills, or at least grandparents
themselves, but it's a scheme that's made a comeback in recent months. While you might believe, “Surely, I'd recognize my grandson's voice," maybe you wouldn't -- it's occasionally hard to distinguish voices on another line for anyone, young or older, and if you're a little hard of hearing, it might be even worse. Generally with this scam all the money is asked to be wired to Canada. Before you wired any money to anyone try calling them at a normal number and be sure they really are in trouble—most likely they are no where near Canada!