MASON CITY – Police are warning of a phone scam in-progress at this time.
According to police, dispatch has received approximately 6-8 calls from local residents Friday morning to reporting that a caller has called loca! residents between 8-10:30 AM this morning using the “grandchild’ phone scam.
The caller claims to be the recipient’s grandchild and claims they are in jail somewhere and need bond money asap. The caller wants the recipient
to wire money to a certain iocation.
“I’m not aware of any actua! victims yet,” said officer Mike McKelvey. “Dispatch thought it was unusual that such a large number of people called in a short amount of time to report the scams.”
Police would like to remind residents to be calm if they receive these calls and think the request through before transmitting any funds. Ask Questions such as the grandchild’s name, if the recipient can speak to the arresting officer, treating physician, etc, and get call back information. Then hang up and try to call your grandchiid or their parents next. In most cases, the relative is safe and sound and nowhere near where the scam caller reported. Recipients can also attempt to look up the alleged jail, hospital, or law enforcement agency name online and call the information number there to verify if their loved one is there.
“Remember,” Officer McKelvey stated, “once the money has been wired to the scammer, it is basically impossible to recover the money.”