Emergency
Scam medium:
- Email and text
- Phone and fax
Targeting:
- Individuals
Emergency scams prey on your fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble. Scammers claim to be someone you know and tell you they need money immediately.
Scenarios they may use include:
- Needing bail money because they've been arrested
- Being in a car accident
- Trouble returning from a foreign country
Vulnerable target: Seniors
Although scammers can claim to be any member of the family (aunt, uncle, husband, wife) or friend, grandparents may be particularly vulnerable.
The scammer pretends to be their grandchild and begs the grandparent not to tell their parents that they're in trouble. As a result, the grandparent doesn't find out until after they've sent the money that their grandchild was not the person who asked for help.
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