The Auburn Police Department is investigating a fraud that targets loving and trusting grandparents and rips thousands of dollars from their pockets under the guise of family loyalty and a ploy to save the family from embarrassment.

One Auburn grandparent received such a telephone call from a person who identified himself as a law enforcement official in Toronto, Canada. The caller said the grandson had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The caller requested $3,000 for bail and asked the target not to tell anyone because the grandson was very embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to know about the arrest. The Auburn grandparent wired the money.

Later the same day, the grandparent received another call for an additional $3,000 to pay the bail commissioner’s fee. Again, the caller stressed the confidentiality on behalf of the grandson. The next morning, the grandparent received a third request for money. This request was for another $3,000 for lawyer’s fees.

This fraud has created a financial burden for this loving and trusting grandparent, and it didn’t have to happen. Some of the things a person can do to protect themselves from this type of fraud is to ask some basic questions of the caller:
• What is your name and what agency do you represent?
• Why do you need this money?
• What will be the money be used for?
• What is my family member’s name?
• What is the date of birth of the family member?
• Can I speak to my family member?

If you have questions, contact detective Sgt. Gary F. Bartis at 483-2134.