Granny scam costs one resident $4,500

OAKWOOD, Ohio (WDTN) - A costly scam is targeting the elderly in Oakwood, and cost one resident more than $4,500 dollars.

The scam starts with a phone call to elderly residents, claiming their nephew or grandson is in jail in a foreign country and needs money to get out.

Referred to as a Granny Scam, the con artist obtains family members' real names and claims they've been arrested in Canada. The scammer then tells the elderly resident to call back. But when the person calls, they answer as Red Rock Police Department.

Captain Randy Baldridge said the fake family member asks you to wire him money because he's been picked up on a drug charge.

"Unfortunately, much like a bank examiners scam, a lot of elderly folks when they're dealing with law enforcement, they feel that this somehow legitimizes it," Baldridge said.

On August 1, another resident was duped out of $9,000 with a similar story.

Baldridge said if you get a phone call like this, take one more step before emptying your bank account. "Call your family members you know and say you know if this is your nephew or your grandson make some phone calls is he okay, do you know where he's at?"

He also said you can go one step further.

"If you're not sure, call your local police department because we can make a few phone calls that if there's a department in Canada that allegedly has your grandson or nephew in custody, we can determine through our resources," Baldridge said.

If you get a phone call or a letter in the mail asking you to wire money somewhere that should be your red flag.