- J
Retired Pastor, Teacher and Veteran and his wife scammed for their life savings.
Over the course of a week and several phone calls, our aging parents mailed $19,800 to professional scam artists. They received a call from a sobbing young man claiming to be their grandson who had been in a car accident out of state. He went on to say he was in the jail infirmary as he had been injured. He begged that they not tell mom or dad, because they disapproved of his taking the out of state trip to begin with. The call then changed to his “lawyers” claiming they needed money to cover bail and legal fees. Over the course of the week they called our parents several times, and our parents even returned their calls, following instructions in order to help their grandson. It wasn’t until they had no money left to give that they finally, tearfully told me my son was injured and in trouble with the law. Heartbreaking.
Our parents are the most caring and giving people I have ever known, and it pains me to see them so devastated. They have both served as teachers, mission workers and faith community leaders for their whole lives. They are both in their 80’s now and mom is the primary caregiver to our father who has Alzheimer’s. Now, though they live on just social security, we were in the process of trying to find them an assisted living facility. We may not be able to do that now and it worries them and us. We know it’s difficult to give this time of year, but really need your help. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.
We also want their story to be known. Our parents are both intelligent, well-educated and well-read people. However, they do not own a computer and were not as aware of the prevalence of these types of scams and frauds. The criminals were professional. Patient, cunning and untraceable. We have had the State Police and our bank’s fraud department investigating, but to no avail. Spread the word to aging, vulnerable people that this is happening more and more. Tell them to not keep secrets and to never mail money or give out banking, credit or personal information. Their generation—America’s greatest generation--is under attack
We are trying to recover the stolen amount that our parents desperately need. Please help however you can. Thank you.
Over the course of a week and several phone calls, our aging parents mailed $19,800 to professional scam artists. They received a call from a sobbing young man claiming to be their grandson who had been in a car accident out of state. He went on to say he was in the jail infirmary as he had been injured. He begged that they not tell mom or dad, because they disapproved of his taking the out of state trip to begin with. The call then changed to his “lawyers” claiming they needed money to cover bail and legal fees. Over the course of the week they called our parents several times, and our parents even returned their calls, following instructions in order to help their grandson. It wasn’t until they had no money left to give that they finally, tearfully told me my son was injured and in trouble with the law. Heartbreaking.
Our parents are the most caring and giving people I have ever known, and it pains me to see them so devastated. They have both served as teachers, mission workers and faith community leaders for their whole lives. They are both in their 80’s now and mom is the primary caregiver to our father who has Alzheimer’s. Now, though they live on just social security, we were in the process of trying to find them an assisted living facility. We may not be able to do that now and it worries them and us. We know it’s difficult to give this time of year, but really need your help. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.
We also want their story to be known. Our parents are both intelligent, well-educated and well-read people. However, they do not own a computer and were not as aware of the prevalence of these types of scams and frauds. The criminals were professional. Patient, cunning and untraceable. We have had the State Police and our bank’s fraud department investigating, but to no avail. Spread the word to aging, vulnerable people that this is happening more and more. Tell them to not keep secrets and to never mail money or give out banking, credit or personal information. Their generation—America’s greatest generation--is under attack
We are trying to recover the stolen amount that our parents desperately need. Please help however you can. Thank you.