Scammers make me sick!!

My grandmother is 89, and two years ago was diagnosed with having onset dementia. Her memory is failing and she often forgets recent things, but repeats stories from decades ago. We know that her thought processes can fail and we try as much as we can to help her.

She came VERY close to losing over $4,500 (he wanted her CC info) from a scammer on the phone, because she can't think situations through clearly anymore.

A guy called her saying he was her grandson and when she asked which one, he replied with, "Your youngest!" He never said a name, but he continued on saying he was stuck in Mexico because he got into an accident with a rental car and didn't have insurance. He claimed that he wouldn't be able to leave the country until he paid the rental company $4,600.

She stopped herself from going to bank ONLY because she was worried my mom might be upset if she loaned my brother the money (her youngest grandson). When my mom picked her up to take her to her doctor appointment earlier, my grandmother said, "Your son called me to borrow money. He's stuck in Mexico."

Clearly, she believed the story, but didn't think loaning my brother the money was a good idea. My mom corrected her and let her know that not only was my brother NOT in Mexico, he would have called HER first in that kind of situation. But I really think she would have given out her information if she wasn't going to see my mom that day. She only waited because she was going to see her.

I'm certain this isn't a new scam, but it makes me SICK that people do this to our elderly.

I'm glad your grandma didn't get scammed.

This is not a new scam and has recently resurfaced. It's been on the news around here lately. Unfortunately not everyone is as lucky as your grandma and many have been scammed into giving money.

Ugh I'm so glad your Grandma didn't give in to it! Your Grandma sounds like how my Gram was a few years ago. She would tell the same 3 stories multiple times a day (I just took it as a way to be sure I remember how she grew up and things.) but then she'd ask a bunch of times where the same person was. Things have progressed to where Gram is more quiet these days. You can draw her out and have a nice conversation; but she doesn't start them like before. The up-side to it is that it has been much easier for her to cope with loosing my Grandfather a few weeks ago. Never thought we'd find an up side like that. (She is also silly now (she flashed my cousins husband when they were dating!); whereas she used to get a charge out of getting rilled up over something that happened 30 years ago...lol...my Dad is the same...must be genetic).

Probably best if someone takes over her finances for her at this point. In our family, its already pretty much agreed I'm going to be the sibling taking care of mom and pop since I am trying my hardest to keep things light-and-breezy and not get anyone pregnant and keep a ball and chain off my ankle! Sis and bro are both married with little subadults running around, and so they really won't have the time.

On the positive news side, Google has gone on an absolute crackdown on scam ads, and has taken down 93,000 recently in a big sting effort. There was also news a couple months back about finally dealing a blow to the nigerian scammers that everyone is familiar with in a huge effort in which some 30 countries participated. So at least there is hope that these SOBs are finally starting to get whats coming to em. Hopefully they catch your scammer as well sooner rather than later.

That's just sad that people would do that. Especially to the elderly.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I'm glad your grandma didn't get scammed.

This is not a new scam and has recently resurfaced. It's been on the news around here lately. Unfortunately not everyone is as lucky as your grandma and many have been scammed into giving money.

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Yeah, I know it's not a new scam but this is the first time this particular one hit my family. My grandfather (her late husband), was mugged in his own home by a scammer. The guy said that he owed him money for a paving job or something and when my grandfather went into the house to get the cash box (to pay the guy for work he never did), he knocked my grandfather down and took the cash.

They stopped keeping cash in the house after that and my grandfather was never the same.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

Ugh I'm so glad your Grandma didn't give in to it! Your Grandma sounds like how my Gram was a few years ago. She would tell the same 3 stories multiple times a day (I just took it as a way to be sure I remember how she grew up and things.) but then she'd ask a bunch of times where the same person was.

Things have progressed to where Gram is more quiet these days. You can draw her out and have a nice conversation; but she doesn't start them like before. The up-side to it is that it has been much easier for her to cope with loosing my Grandfather a few weeks ago. Never thought we'd find an up side like that. (She is also silly now (she flashed my cousins husband when they were dating!); whereas she used to get a charge out of getting rilled up over something that happened 30 years ago...lol...my Dad is the same...must be genetic).

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I honestly think that she's starting to be happier in her current mental state. Things just don't touch her the way they used to. It's sad for the rest of us to see her diminish before our eyes though.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

Probably best if someone takes over her finances for her at this point.

In our family, its already pretty much agreed I'm going to be the sibling taking care of mom and pop since I am trying my hardest to keep things light-and-breezy and not get anyone pregnant and keep a ball and chain off my ankle! Sis and bro are both married with little subadults running around, and so they really won't have the time.

On the positive news side, Google has gone on an absolute crackdown on scam ads, and has taken down 93,000 recently in a big sting effort. There was also news a couple months back about finally dealing a blow to the nigerian scammers that everyone is familiar with in a huge effort in which some 30 countries participated. So at least there is hope that these SOBs are finally starting to get whats coming to em. Hopefully they catch your scammer as well sooner rather than later.

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My parents actually manage all her bills, but she still has access to the money. I think after this my mom might try to restrict her access a bit. My parents have power of attorney over all her assets though, so at least that's covered. And it's great that Google is finally trying to get rid of scammers.

Originally Posted by KittKatt

My mom had a similar situation happen to her. Thankfully, she didn't fall for it, but I think it's because of all the harping I've been doing to her over situations such as that. Not too long ago she would have fallen for it: she's really gullible over things like that. She's the kind of person who will click on any links that are attached in scammer e-mails.

Bless her sweet, innocent heart.

I've gotten phone calls where the person asks me to verify personal information such as SS #'s and the like: when I ask them what they're calling in reference to, they'll say they can't tell me that or continue with the phone call till I verify who I am. So then I'll tell them that since that's the case, they don't need to worry about me continuing with the call to find out what it's all about, and proceed to hang up on them.

Randall almost fell for a similar phone call like your grandmother did: thankfully, I had been harping on him over those kind of scams too, and he hung up on the person.

I'm glad your grandmother didn't get taken. It's a sad world when things like this happen, and those SOBs start attacking the elderly who can't think very clearly anymore. I really don't understand just how some people can be so cruel & heartless..

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I think, in the end, she was embarassed she almost fell for it. I'm worried that she might not say anything if she DID fall for something like that. Pride is really important to her. Kind of why she still drives (not to mention the state BMV giving her her license after she failed to pass the eye exam three times, but got it on the fourth).

Originally Posted by Cat Condos

That's just sad that people would do that. Especially to the elderly.

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I completely agree. You hear stories but until it impacts your own family, you just don't realize how horrible it all is. We were lucky.