Your article [Thoughts from the Publisher] in the Nov. 12, 2010 Signal Tribune, about the scam you were involved in brought back memories of a similar event in my life. Story follows:
I answered my phone one morning, and the person on the other end said, “Grandma, I’m in jail in Canada, and I need some money to get out.” I’m not a happy camper when one of my children or grandchildren are in trouble so, being who I am, I panicked and said “Josh, (first mistake— never give a name) what happened? Why are you in jail?” in a high-C voice. He said, “I had an accident, and I need the money to pay for the damage I caused.” I said, “What about your insurance?” He said, “My insurance doesn’t cover me in Canada.” I said, “Okay, tell me what you want me to do. We can discuss the situation you got yourself into later.” He said, “Go to Wal-Mart and buy a Moneygram and send it to me at this address in Canada.” I said, “Well, how are you going to get it if you are in jail?” He said, “Hurry, Grandma. They will let me go to pick it up when it comes.” Still thinking it was my grandson, I said, “I’ll go right now.”
As I was running to get dressed and go to the Wal-Mart store, I stopped as I was running out the door, with one shoe on and one off, and thought that maybe I should call his number and see if he is at home. But there was no answer, and I didn’t think it was a good idea to call him at work if he was supposed to be working that day.
I got to the door and stopped. Something told me this wasn’t right. I called my son and told him the story. He asked me if I had tried Josh at his home, and I told him I had but there was no answer. He then asked if I had called him at work, and I said I didn’t have that number because I didn’t want to tell him I was afraid of compromising his job. He told me not to send any money until he tried to contact Josh at work.
Within minutes, my phone rang again, and it was my son and, via three-party connection, Josh. I was so relieved to hear his voice, and when I told him what happened, he said he was sorry I had that experience but he was fine and not in Canada. About 15 or 20 minutes later, my phone rang again and the voice said, “Grandma, this is Josh. Did you send the money?” Now it was my turn to play dirty, so I said, “Yes, I just got back and I sent it as you told me to.”
About 10 minutes later, I received another call from “Josh,” and he said, “Grandma, where did you send the money?” I told him I sent it to the place he had directed me to send it and that I couldn’t send another dime because I didn’t have it. He asked me if I had the receipt for the transaction and I said, “Oh, my gosh— I’ll bet I threw it away when I was running back to my car to come home.” I screamed into the phone, “Now I don’t know what else I can do, Josh,” and I hung up. The phone rang and rang several more times, and I just allowed it to ring, hoping that little creep would get caught one day and end up in a real jail.
I contacted the local police and the FBI and was told by both that this is a scam and not to ever send money unless you are positive by first contacting the police department in the place your family member is supposed to be in trouble. (Incidentally, the FBI told me I did exactly the right thing.)
Vivian C. Nelson
Long Beach
