Robert Jain: What Are Grandparent Scams?

By Jason McDonald


Financial crises can occur from anywhere, even when someone is in their golden years. This brings us to the topic of grandparent scams, which affect a number of older men and women around the world. The people behind said scams hone in on the empathy of others, stealing money from them in the process. When it comes to grandparent scans, from what they entail to how they can be avoided, here is what Robert Jain can tell you.

Let's say that, one day, a grandparent receives a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild. This individual will tell them that they need money quickly, either for medical reasons, rent coverage, or what have you. Before long, the grandparent will send the money over, not knowing that they've just been fooled by a fraudster until it's too late. As names such as Bob Jain will attest, this is a serious form of fraud.

With this information in mind, you may be curious to know how you can protect yourself in a situation like this. One of the best methods of protection is consulting your other family members. Tell them that you received a phone call from a grandchild, and see if their stories line up to what you have been told. If they notice anything odd, they will tell you. This should be a red flag to tell you to keep your money to yourself for the time being.

Next, be mindful of the only method of transferring money they suggest is wire transfer. This seems to be the most commonly associated with grandparent scams, and to say that it should be cause for concern would be an understatement. You may even suggest sending money through PayPal or some other digital means. If they continually insist on the wire transfer without any further explanation, you'd be wise to cut off the connection entirely.

It's also worth noting the importance of protection on the digital front. Grandparent scams can occur online just as they can over the phone, which means that your computer should be fully updated. Ensure that the right antivirus software is installed. In addition, set up a firewall so that you can better protect yourself. The more protection you implement on the digital front, the less likely it is that you'll be a victim of this type of scam.




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