Scammers Target Pinellas Seniors, Posing As Grandchildren

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County sheriff's detectives are encouraging the public to be on alert to a rise in recent phone scams targeting elderly residents in Pinellas County.

According to detectives, the victims are contacted by a person pretending to be one of their grandchildren, a detective or an attorney calling about their grandchild. The person may tell the resident that the grandchild has been injured and is being transported to the hospital. The caller may also say the grandchild has been arrested and bond money is needed.

The caller tells the elderly resident to send cash through the mail or tells the resident that a courier will come by to collect the cash.

The caller tells the elderly person not to contact law enforcement or other family members to verify the information.

The elderly residents discover their grandchildren were never injured or arrested after the cash has already been picked up and is untraceable.

Detectives say cases of this type have risen in the past weeks and want to remind residents to verify the status of their grandchildren with other family members before providing any cash.

Anyone with information on this scam is asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 727-582-6200.

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