Grandmother Scammed on Thanksgiving

Amaury · Dec 4, 2013

Hope the grandmother's able to get her money back.

Local Grandmother Scammed out of Thousands on Thanksgiving

Source: NBC 4

Published: 12/1/2013

NBC 4 said:

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio -

A Reynoldsburg family is speaking out about a scam that took thousands from their grandmother in the hopes of helping others to avoid falling victim too.

The victim, Mary, who asked only her first name be used, says she received a call on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, from a man claiming to be her grandson, Jimmy.

According to Mary, the scammer said that he had been in an accident and was injured and needed money for an attorney to help him get out of jail. Mary says she feared for her grandson's well-being and also wanted him to be home for Thanksgiving so she agreed to wire money.

In all Mary says she sent $12,000 through multiple transactions.

On Thanksgiving, Mary began to realize something was terribly wrong and reached out to her daughter and son-in-law.

"She was very upset because she said she had paid all the money. And she hadn't heard from my son. And she was supposed to have heard from him by now. And I said 'Well, he's downstairs right now,'" said Mary's son-in-law, Jim Cassell.

It turned out Mary's grandson had been safely at home with his parents the entire time.
By then, Mary says she wiped out her savings and borrowed on her credit card to pay the scammers.

Mary says the scammers played on her emotions, "That was what kept me going, thinking that I was helping my grandson. Because this person sounded exactly like my grandson. And I didn't try to call him or anything because I just trusted that was him. They're very good at that."

Investigators say scammers often gather personal information about victims online and possibly through Facebook including information about their relatives such as grandchildren.

"It's hard to believe that people are so cruel. I'm sure the people who did this didn't have an ounce of remorse," Cassell said.

Mary's grandchildren have started a Facebook page called "Help Grandma Mary" and are taking donations online to help pay her back for the money stolen.

Grandson Jimmy says he is also planning a benefit concert for Mary on January 3, 2014 at Circus which will include a silent auction.
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Grandmother Scammed on Thanksgiving

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