Then Again

I was almost scammed

Posted by Audrey Juds on March 26, 2009 | 0 comments

This guy was so clever. I answered the phone and he said, "Hi, this is Jim."

I’m thinking, this is Grandson Jim letting me know if his family will be coming over for Easter dinner.

His voice sounded a little deeper, but he noted that he had a cold. I agreed that I could hear it in his voice. We conversed just like it really was my grandson. He told me he actually was calling from Canada. When I asked where he was in Canada, he said he was in Ontario on a fishing trip with his buddies.

That was kind of a surprise, but he does come up to our cottage with his buddies, so I suppose this could happen.

Then he told me they didn’t know they were fishing on hallowed Indian land and they were picked up and arrested. He wanted to know if I cold help him out because he did not have money to pay the fine, and emphasized I would get my money back.

I explained that I didn’t have any money available right now, and flippantly added "try calling Uncle Mark." Then we suddenly were disconnected.

I e-mailed my son, "Uncle Mark" at work. He, in turn, called Lori (Jim’s mother.) Lori called me and was surprised that Jim had not tried to call her. Then she thought he probably decided to call his father instead.

At the time I was wondering if I should feel honored that I was the first one Jim thought of calling.

Lori then called her husband, who suggested this is a scam. She thought she would check to see if Jim was at work, and he answered the phone. He was not in Canada.

She then called me back and told me to call the police, which I did. The officer asked if I have caller ID. Unfortunately I don’t, and there were several calls in between.

A person gets used to seeing scam attempts on the computer – but not on the phone!

So I want to warn others to beware of any phone calls from stranded persons needing money wired to them. And I still can’t believe how comfortable I felt talking to this guy, thinking he was my grandson.