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Grandparent scams
Date posted: March 18, 2024
Please be aware of the following “grandparent scams.” The crimes can be characterized as follows:
Contact is made by phone and the scammer claims to be a grandchild, law enforcement, or a lawyer and advises that your grandchild is in custody for a crime, or has been involved in an accident.
The scammer may know some personal information about you and the grandchild, or may be using a script that relies on responses to fill in the blanks. To make the story seem more credible, the scammer might put someone else on the phone to act like a police officer, bail bondsman or lawyer.
The scammer goes on to pressure you for money needed for bail or medical expenses. In most cases, the scammer will instruct you to go to your financial institution and withdraw cash and send it to an address via a shipping company. In some cases, depending on where the victim lives, they may even send someone to collect the money at your home.
The scammer may warn the victim to not tell anyone about the payment as it affect the grandchild’s outcome.
Don’t be a victim:
- Trust your instinct. Just hang up.
- If you are concerned, call a family member after to verify the claims or call us at 9-1-1.
- Scammers use high-pressure tactics. This is a good indicator that it’s a scam.
- Children/family members are encouraged to educate their older parents/grandparents about this type of scam.
What to do after the call:
*Report the fraud to us at 9-1-1.
Failure to appear at court/Medical professionals
Date posted: August 1, 2023
The actors in this scam are identifying themselves as Pittsburgh Police officers and are calling Physician Assistants, and possibly other medical personnel, and informing them that they were supposed to appear at court for a hearing. The actors then state that the medical personnel will be arrested if they do not pay cash as a civil fine for missing the hearing. The actors’ phone number is altered to appear to be from the Pittsburgh Police Dept. Zone 1 and they inform the medical personnel to take the cash to the parking lot of the Pittsburgh Police Dept. Zone 1 building.
This is a scam, and the Pittsburgh Police Dept. has been notified. If you receive a phone call like this, please hang up the phone and do not provide any information. If you have any additional questions, please call 911 and request a phone call from the Mt. Lebanon Police Department.
