Phone scams prey on grandparents

A recent wave of familiar phone scams have been directed at Red Wing seniors, Police Chief Tim Sletten said. One such scam was attempted Jan. 20.

An elderly couple received a call around 8:25 a.m. from someone who identified himself as a police officer from Montreal. The man said the couple's grandson had landed in some hot water with drugs north of the border. Another person got on the phone and impersonated the grandson. Then the supposed police officer went on to say the couple could spring their grandson if they sent $3,000 to a location in London.

The couple didn't go for it.

"This has been around for quite a while. It's the grandparent scam. There are quite a few variations," Sletten said. "People need to be aware this has been going on and there's been a rash of them."

Sletten said in addition to not sending money after such a phone call people should not provide any personal information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers.

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