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<blockquote data-quote="nerfherder" data-source="post: 624946" data-attributes="member: 15907"><p>One lady locally got taken in by this one, to the tune of over $1500. Whoever it was tried my mom, I suspect they got all but one very important detail about my daughter off Facebook. </p><p></p><p>They then got my mom's phone number and called her, saying they were the Goth Princess, they were in Canada, they were in an accident, got busted for a drunk driving charge and needed $500 for a lawyer and a ride home.</p><p></p><p>So Mom called me, angry and upset, told me this story, and ended with "But why did she call me Grandma, instead of _______ like she usually does?"</p><p></p><p>The whole time she's telling me this I am laughing quietly, because I'd just talked to her the night before, and she was telling me about a job she'd applied for in town that day. That last bit was just icing on the cake.</p><p></p><p>Mom had said "Darling, you know I don't have any money, you better just call your father and ask him."</p><p></p><p>So...</p><p></p><p>1. I knew where she actually was.</p><p>2. She very rarely drinks, has been genuinely drunk once or twice in her life and didn't like it.</p><p>3. She still has her learner's permit and is still uncomfortable with that whole "driving" thing.</p><p>4. Nobody calls my mom "Grandma."</p><p></p><p>Takeaway tips:</p><p></p><p>Make sure your elderly or vulnerable relatives know for certain they are not on the "Emergency Call" list for anyone they care for.</p><p>If Grandma or Grampa or Tanta or Ciociu or whatever relative in question has a special name, do NOT share it on Facebook or whatever. It's just another tool for scammers to use. Also have a code word you don't share with anyone but them. If you use that code word, they know it's legit.</p><p>Have a plan for relatives - like say, if you DO in fact go overseas and get in an accident where you can't communicate, that there's a way for emergency funds to be accessed by relatives in your home country to send to the place in question - but they have to contact you FIRST for some kind of confirmation.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nerfherder, post: 624946, member: 15907"] One lady locally got taken in by this one, to the tune of over $1500. Whoever it was tried my mom, I suspect they got all but one very important detail about my daughter off Facebook. They then got my mom's phone number and called her, saying they were the Goth Princess, they were in Canada, they were in an accident, got busted for a drunk driving charge and needed $500 for a lawyer and a ride home. So Mom called me, angry and upset, told me this story, and ended with "But why did she call me Grandma, instead of _______ like she usually does?" The whole time she's telling me this I am laughing quietly, because I'd just talked to her the night before, and she was telling me about a job she'd applied for in town that day. That last bit was just icing on the cake. Mom had said "Darling, you know I don't have any money, you better just call your father and ask him." So... 1. I knew where she actually was. 2. She very rarely drinks, has been genuinely drunk once or twice in her life and didn't like it. 3. She still has her learner's permit and is still uncomfortable with that whole "driving" thing. 4. Nobody calls my mom "Grandma." Takeaway tips: Make sure your elderly or vulnerable relatives know for certain they are not on the "Emergency Call" list for anyone they care for. If Grandma or Grampa or Tanta or Ciociu or whatever relative in question has a special name, do NOT share it on Facebook or whatever. It's just another tool for scammers to use. Also have a code word you don't share with anyone but them. If you use that code word, they know it's legit. Have a plan for relatives - like say, if you DO in fact go overseas and get in an accident where you can't communicate, that there's a way for emergency funds to be accessed by relatives in your home country to send to the place in question - but they have to contact you FIRST for some kind of confirmation. [/QUOTE]
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