Phone Scam Targeting Elderly Women

​Phone scams aren’t a new thing, but this one is disturbing and he’s targeting elderly females for thousands of dollars.

The caller seeks out these females and represents himself as their grandson who was involved with another person who was stopped and jailed for being in possession of controlled substances. 

Sergeant Galen Svoboda from the Nebraska State Patrol Troop B Criminal Division says they have received three complaints in a little over a weeks time.

“The caller will ask for bond money from their grandma. Attempts have been made by the elderly to confirm who this person is. The caller will then start sobbing and express to the elderly female they are concerned and want to tell the family on their own, therefore the grandmother won’t follow up on that call.”

The callers are asking for money in the form of iTunes cards. Once the female buys the cards, she calls a number that was left for her and gives the caller information on the cards.

The caller isn’t done there. He then asks the female for a second amount for fines.

“Once they make this phone call and provide the caller with the numbers, the caller ask for a second amount in a fine that they have to pay. The elderly female makes a second trip to the store and buys another large amount of iTunes cards.”

Sgt. Svoboda says most jail facilities in this part of state won’t take anything other than cash to bail someone out.
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If you receive a call where the caller doesn’t want you to reach out to a family member, that should be a sure sign that you are being scammed. 

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