84-year-old scammed

Photo: Contributed

An 84-year-old West Kelowna woman is feeling the sting from a scam that is well known for targeting seniors after she lost $1,500 earlier this week.

Photo: Contributed - AP photo

On Tuesday of this week the woman received a phone call from a private number and a man claiming to be her grandson.

The man said that he had been arrested for impaired driving and needed bail money so he could be released from jail.

He asked her to wire the money via Western Union to his lawyer "Marcotte Gaetan" so that he could take care of the arrangements. When the woman sent the money, the man even called back to say "thank you."

Unfortunately, "Marcotte Gaetan" is a fictitious name and the man claiming to be her grandson was simply a fraud artist trying to scam her out of her cash.

Seniors are typically targeted by this scam, dubbed the grandparent scam, in order to prey on their benevolence.

Think you're being scammed ask yourself these questions:

• S-Safe. If you give in to one of these facades, would you be worse off for having done it?
• C-Credible. Does the person who is trying to convince you have any credibility that can be verified?
• A-Aggressive. Is the scammer using an aggressive tactic, or language, that requires an immediate or imperative response?
• M-Motive. Is their motive to deprive you of money or assets (banking information), with a promise of greater reward?

If the answer is “YES” to any of the above questions, or you have any doubt, then don’t fall for it. If it’s a phone call, hang up. If a letter, throw it away. If in person, kindly tell them you’re not interested.

Click here to learn more about scams.