Whitman police warn of grandparent scam surge

WHITMAN — A notable rise in “grandchild in jail” scam reports has prompted the Whitman Police Department to issue a community alert.

Perpetrators of the scam are contacting grandparents by phone, impersonating a grandchild or pretending to be an attorney, claiming the grandchild is in custody following a car accident and needs cash for bail.

Victims are told that a “gag order” prevents them from verifying the situation.

The fraudsters then visit the victims’ homes under the guise of a “courier” to collect the supposed bail money.

Authorities are cautioning residents to be vigilant and remember that any actual detentions can be confirmed with the police department where the arrest was made or through the local district court.

Officials emphasize that government entities, including law enforcement, do not ask for payment via wire transfer or prepaid cards for bail.

To learn more about the grandparent scam and how to avoid becoming a target, the Whitman Police Department advises reviewing safety tips provided by the FBI at https://tinyurl.com/elder-fraud.