Be wary of ‘emergency’ calls for money, Kenilworth cops warn

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:33AM

Kenilworth Police Department officials are warning village residents to be wary of “friends” calling them for money after two people in the village reporting losing thousands of dollars to similar phone scams.

In both incidents, someone called and pretended to be a friend or family member in desperate need of emergency assistance. The victims immediately wired money to their supposed friend or relative, only to find that the caller was a fraudster. In each case, the victim lost thousands of dollars; one victim wired almost $9,000 to someone who turned out to be a scam artist.

According to department officials, such frauds often target older adults, so they’re sometimes known as the “grandparents scam.”

While details may vary, the latest financial racket generally involves someone pretending to be a family member or friend who needs cash quickly. Sometimes the supposed cause is a traffic accident; at other times it could be an arrest or an emergency medical situation.

The caller will relate that he or she is having an emergency that requires the victim to quickly send thousands of dollars to help the supposed friend or loved one get out of trouble.

If victims actually send money, they’ll often get a second call asking for more funds, complete with another convincing excuse.

Prosecution into such frauds is unlikely, according to a department press release, because investigations typically cross international borders. Fund recovery is nearly impossible, officials said; people often are unaware that a wire transfer may be picked up at a different location than that which the sender writes on his or her receipt.

Police advise anyone getting phone calls asking for funds to ask the caller for a call-back number. They should then check on the actual location and condition of whatever friend or relative supposedly is in trouble.

Residents can contact police to help verify the facts before sending money. Anyone else getting such calls should also call police.

More information on the “grandparents scam” from Western Union can be found online at https://thewesternunion.custhelp.com.