Price City police announced several months ago that a scam targeting senior citizens swept through the local area. Recent reports indicate that the scam is occurring once again.
According to the police department Facebook page, several Price residents received phone calls from someone stating that they are a grandchild imprisoned in a foreign country. The caller then claims to need money for bail and asks the victim to either wire money or send a gift card.
The Price Police Department confirmed that these calls are a scam and no one should send money without verifying the facts first.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website, the following tips should be followed by citizens to avoid falling victim to the phone scam:
- Resist the pressure to act quickly.
- Try to contact your grandchild or another family member to determine whether or not the call is legitimate.
- Never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an email, especially overseas. Wiring money is like giving cash – once you send it, you can’t get it back.
For more information regarding Grandparent Scam, visit https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/april/grandparent_040212.