Grandparent & Mystery Shopper Scams

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Pocatello and South East Idaho are currently experiencing a wave of Grandparent and Mystery Shopper scams.  In the past two days three victims have fallen prey to these scams amounting to nearly $10,000.  This email is being sent in an effort to alert city employees and hopefully reach a much broader audience.  If you know of any older vulnerable adults or even your parents please relay this information on to them or warn them to be aware of these scams.  We’re also working on a news media blitz in an attempt to stem the tide of these scams.
 The grandparent scam is where an individual posing as a grandchild is in some type of trouble, accident or in the hospital and needs cash.  The perpetrators of this scam have done their research very well, knowing the grandchild’s name, parents name and the name of the grandparents they’re calling.  Basically  they’re asking to have money wired to an individual who is posing as the representative of the grandchild.
 The mystery shopper scam is perpetrated by an individual receiving a check in the mail along with a survey form.  The instructions are to deposit the check, take out a specified amount of cash and conduct the shopping survey.  The shopping survey includes wiring the specified amount of cash to a designated individual and address out of the country.
 The common pattern in both of these scams is the wiring of funds via Western Union or Money-Gram, usually outside the country.
 Thanks,  Kim W. Ellis
Community Services Specialist
208-234-6117; kellis@pocatello.us