Kingston Police: Grandparent telephone scam has resurfaced in the area

Kingston Police are reminding the community that scammers can and do ask for money over the telephone, and to be aware that a previous scam of this nature has been reported in the Kingston area,

According to a release from Kingston Police, the “parent or grandparent” telephone scam has resurfaced recently. Kingston Police said their front desk staff “have had a few calls on this over the last couple of days,” mostly from elderly residents who are being asked to send $1,000 to $1,500 dollars to bail out children or grandchildren who have been arrested for Impaired Driving.

The fraudsters pretend to be a child who desperately needs monetary help and these scammers typically claim their voice is different because of the accident, according to the release. Police said often times another person will enter the conversation portraying themselves as a lawyer or police officer and say funds are needed for bail and legal expenses. The victims are also told to keep it secret from other family members.

“If you get a call from someone claiming to be a family member in trouble, you should reach out to them directly and don’t keep it a secret from others,” Kingston Police said. “Don’t send money to anyone unless you know exactly where it is going and if it can be traced in the event there is a problem.”