Attorney General warns of ‘Grandparent Scam’

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Attorney General Andy Beshear on Thursday issued a Scam Alert warning Kentuckians to be wary of the “grandparent scam.”

The scam involves a con artist calling a grandparent and identifying themselves as their grandchild who is in some type of trouble and needs financial help, such as money to pay bail, legal fees, medical bills or rent.

The con artist often requests the funds be transmitted in the form of gift cards, like iTunes cards, prepaid credit cards and other reloadable cards that are easy to purchase at retail stores and difficult to track or recover.

“This is a common telephone scam that has resurfaced in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “It sickens me that con artists are exploiting grandparents and their love of their family. I encourage all Kentuckians to hang up on any caller seeking payment via gift cards – the call is more than likely a scam.”

Beshear recommends the following tips to help detect and avoid the grandparent scam:

-Be cautious of all unexpected phone calls asking you to quickly pay a bail bond or bills.

-Call the grandchild, the con artist is claiming to be, at a known phone number to verify.

-Ask the caller questions that would be difficult for an impostor to answer correctly.

Beshear asked anyone with information on the grandparent scam to report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection hotline at 888-432-9257.

One of Beshear’s top priorities is to protect Kentucky consumers, especially seniors from scams, abuse and exploitation. To help Kentuckians stay up to date on new and trending scams, Beshear launched Scam Alerts – a communication service that alerts Kentuckians when con artists are on the attack.

Beshear urges all Kentuckians to sign-up for Scam Alerts by texting the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311). Or, enroll online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.