Scam Costs Salina Woman $2,300
Jeff Garretson - Mon 10:27 AM 12/03/2012
Police say the call originated from Montreal, Canada.
An elderly woman is scammed over the telephone.
According to Lt. Scott Siemsen, an 83-year-old Salina woman called police on Friday after sending what she believed to be "bail money" to help her grandson.
Police say the woman was contacted by someone claiming to be with the Mexico City Police Department.
She was told that her grandson had been involved in an accident and would need money wired over to bond out.
The woman is now out of $2,300 after sending a money gram to help.
Police say the call originated from Montreal, Canada.
The woman realized she had been scammed when she called her grandson - and found him okay and attending his college in the US.
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getumgranny
Monday 3 December 2012 12:06 Report this comment
I really wish, families of the elderly would pay closer attention, talk to their elderly family members about this type of scam!! I would think, she would have had to go to a bank to withdraw this amount of money, Why did the bank people not question her, perhaps check into this before releasing this amount of money to her. There are people that can educate/inform elderly about protecting themselves. Talk to someone at the Senior center, I'm sure they can set anyone up with an appointment to discuss how to avoid becoming a victim!!! Before I would EVER consider sending money anywhere, I would confirm with a family member who/what/where the emergency is/was!! Anyone receiving this type of phone call should HANG UP IMMEDIATELY, contact the family members.
Travis
Monday 3 December 2012 12:30 Report this comment
Like clockwork, these type of news articles appear on ksal almost weekly, and have been for several years. Is funny how ksal likes to rotate the use of 3 words with these stories. This week they used the word SCAM, next week it will be "Salina woman CONNED out of $2300", the week after next it will be "Salina woman BILKED out of $2600" What the heck does BILK mean? LOL Lets take bets on what word will be used next week: scam, bilked, conned. Also it's funny that the amount is always in the $2500 range too.
harryj45
Monday 3 December 2012 18:53 Report this comment
For once I agree whole heartedly with you granny....and would almost hold the bank more responsible than anyone. They know it's not right and should assure the "victim" nothing will be done until the story checks out. It's ridiculous....I don't care how much they may have in the bank, it does not belong to some smooth talker on the telephone.
DamiStac
Monday 3 December 2012 21:11 Report this comment
Ugh while I'd like to agree with you regarding banks needing more responsibility. I was at Great Plains Federal Credit Union on Ohio maybe a year and a half ago and a man probably in his 70s-80s was withdrawing close to 5,000. When the woman at the counter asked him a list of questions on a little card. The elderly man was FURIOUS. He seemed like it was the biggest insult he'd ever heard that someone would suspect him of being a fraud victim. So, while I'd love to say the banks should do a better job, I think them doing a better job would just amount to a backlash. This world is really messed up, people get upset when you offer to help them because they want to stand on their own two feet, but they also get pissed the moment you don't offer.
DamiStac
Monday 3 December 2012 21:14 Report this comment
Though! I do think it'd be great if they (the banks) decided to just automatically include the FBI notice card regarding how to spot a scam in every single withdraw totaling more than say $1000. Then the tellers could just say, "Oh we give that card to all our customers!"
Iamgonnagetyou
Monday 3 December 2012 22:58 Report this comment
The bank or credit union should ask who cares if some rude person objects for every one person who gets mad they can save 5 who would lose money. I also think the banks should be responsible on the check scams also when people bring those in for deposit.
DamiStac
Tuesday 4 December 2012 06:58 Report this comment
You're soooo right, the banks should completely go around upsetting their customers! That sounds like a great strategy. I highly doubt that for every one pissed off customer five would be saved. I doubt that for every 10-15 people they upset, one would be saved. These numbers would be even higher if they had to ask about EVERY customer who brought in a check as well. Either way, you're basically saying banks should legally be required to upset their customers to save idiots... It's so funny when I'm the "liberal" and I think people are getting too "nanny state" mentality on me.
DamiStac
Tuesday 4 December 2012 07:01 Report this comment
I think fast food chains should be required to ask every individual, "Are you sure you need a large fry? Wouldn't a small save you a few hundred calories?" and every grocery store the same. Walmart should ask customers "Are you sure you need this 55 inch television? You look like poor white trash who might be burying themselves in debt."
Aurora.
Tuesday 4 December 2012 08:45 Report this comment
You are talking apples and oranges here. What was posted by the other person makes sense as the banks have the capability to bring up the accounts of people withdrawing large amounts of money and the elderly should be red flagged as they are the most prone. Naturally there are some elderly that do business and at times withdraw large amounts but banking officials would be able to recognize that also. As far as depositing large checks here again if someone comes in with this type of trans action a simple inquiry especially if the check seems strange or questionable would help and also let the person depositing know there are scams out there requesting that they deposit checks and send monies or that if the check is bad they are responsible. Just some simple everyday things could save people alot of grief.
DamiStac
Tuesday 4 December 2012 23:22 Report this comment
Well, the incident at GPFCU was very well put, and the old guy lit up like a Christmas tree... an evil satanic Christmas tree filled with hate! I know I've asked older people if they'd like help with their groceries, or if they'd like me to take the cart back up to the store. (Small stuff) and some of them, not most... just some random individuals act as though I'm taking away the only livelihood they have left. The cart incidents usually deal with me having to back peddle, "Oh no! I just wanted the cart if you weren't using it." I don't know it's a double edged sword, I think people would be insulted and it'd require rules about how to ask. On the same note, should it really be the banks fault whenever someone makes a choice to do something stupid? TALK TO YOUR RELATIVES. My mom calls me any time she gets a suspicious phone call, letter, or e-mail asking me. It's annoying sometimes but I know she's not going to get "bilked" out of $2,000.