"Granddaughter" scam in Wilków. Senior woman was not deceived
A scammer posing as a granddaughter attempted to persuade a 73-year-old woman from Wilków to transfer money, claiming there had been an accident. The alert senior verified the information and recognised the fraud.
"Granddaughter" scam in Wilków. Senior woman was not deceived
According to opolska.policja.gov.pl, a scammer called a 73-year-old resident of Namysłów County in the evening of 3 November at around 19:30. The caller was crying and presented a dramatic story about an accident in which three people were supposedly injured. She addressed the senior as "granny", suggesting she was her granddaughter.
From the first seconds of the conversation, the woman heard crying and chaotic narration designed to cause alarm. The scammer claimed that the senior's mother was dealing with formalities related to the incident. She then said that money was urgently needed and directly asked what amount of money the woman had at home.
At that moment, the 73-year-old did not lose her alertness. Despite the alarming information, she did not disclose the amount of her savings or commit to transferring money. She replied that she did not know exactly how much cash she had at home, and then ended the conversation, explaining that she needed to calm down.
The senior recalled warnings about telephone scams that she had heard many times from relatives. She therefore decided to verify the story being told. She called her niece, whose voice resembled the voice of the woman who called. During the conversation, she confirmed that everything was fine with the family and that the story about the accident had been made up.
Around 19:45, the senior's phone rang again. This time the call came from a withheld number, and the unknown caller again addressed the woman as "granny". The 73-year-old was prepared. She remained calm and asked the caller a simple question – what was her granddaughter's name? The scammer could not answer and immediately hung up.
The Police were informed of the entire situation. Officers from the District Police Command in Namysłów were dispatched to the scene, who established the circumstances of the incident and conducted a conversation with the senior. Police also carried out brief observation of the area, but did not notice any suspicious persons.
The "granddaughter" or "accident" method is one of the ways criminals try to extort money by exploiting the trust and strong emotions of victims. The perpetrators often call elderly people, posing as children, grandchildren or other family members. They tell of alleged road accidents, police arrests, medical costs or an urgent need to transfer money.
During the conversation, they deliberately create time pressure. They cry, shout and speak chaotically, convincing that the situation is dramatic. All in order for the listener not to have time to calmly consider and verify the truth of the information provided. Not infrequently, the perpetrators also try to establish how much money a senior keeps at home, whether they own valuables, and whether they live alone.
Officers from Namysłów Police appeal for particular caution and remind of several basic safety rules. If someone calls and informs about an accident involving a close person, requiring immediate transfer of money, one should exercise particular caution. It is worth hanging up, verifying the information with other family members and notifying the Police.
Police recommend talking with elderly people about the methods used by scammers and establishing family passwords or questions to which only close relatives know the answers. Anyone can become a victim of fraud, regardless of age. Criminals are constantly modifying their methods, but their goal remains the same – to obtain money. Vigilance and verification of the information received can protect a lifetime's savings.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)