74-year-old woman loses thousands of dollars in scam
A 74-year-old woman has fallen victim to a scam that specifically targets seniors.
Irma Orozco received a call from someone who claimed to be her adult grandson Jack. Irma was excited by the call as she knows her family is busy and doesn’t like to bother them by calling.
"I got the phone and the person said, 'Hello.' And I said, 'Hello, hello?" And he said, 'This is Jack.' And I said, 'Hi Jack,'" Irma said.
The person impersonating her grandson claimed he had been in an accident and needed financial help. A second man who pretended to be Jack’s attorney, told Irma that they needed $7,000.
Irma deposited the money into the scammer’s Bank of America account as she wanted to help her grandson. She deposited a further $6,500 into the account when they said they needed more.
When Irma got through to her real grandson and asked about the money, he had no idea what she was referring to.
Unfortunately, Irma lost $13,500 to the “Grandparent Scam” which sees criminals prey on seniors by targeting their emotions.
AARP has advised those who receive a call from a relative asking for money to calmly say you have to check with another family member and hang up. Then consult family members to see if it is real.
If the person on the phone says, “Don’t tell Mum and Dad”, it is a red flag that the call could be a scam.
"Just be careful," Irma advised in her 3 On Your Side interview. "They trick you so bad. They traumatise you. They traumatise you so bad that you lose your sense. I lose my sense."