Police: 'Grandparent' Scam Targets Arcadia Residents

ARCADIA (CBS) — Arcadia police warned residents on Friday about the "grandparent scam," in which criminals call elderly people and pretend to be their grandchildren in need of money in an emergency.

Two people contacted detectives recently to say they received such calls, and one person was scammed out of some money, police said.

According to police, a con artist will call and ask a victim, "Don't you know who this is?" and then plead for money by giving a sad tale of hardship.

Sometimes, an accomplice will come on the line, and pretend to be a police officer "confirming" that the person needs the money for bail, and will then provide a telephone number — one that is answered by another accomplice — to embellish their claim.

Anyone receiving such calls was advised to independently verify the information, and contact police if they believe they are being victimized.

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