'Gladys' was lucky she didn't get caught in 'grandson' scam

How many grandmothers wouldn't help a grandson in trouble?

If they need help for about anything, you can probably bet grandma will be there for support.

Unfortunately, that's what some thieves are banking on too.

I received a letter from a Linton grandmother a couple of days ago asking me to pass along a scam that nearly caught her in its web.

I'll call the grandmother Gladys, though that's not her real name.

One day in February Gladys receive a telephone call from someone claiming that her grandson wanted to talk with her. A boy got on the phone and he asked her if he was her favorite grandson. Gladys responded by calling him by name. He, of course, acknowledged that it was him.

The grandson went on to say that he was in Canada and in jail and needed money and couldn't get out until he paid for damages he caused during a wreck.

"He was crying so it was impossible to recognize him," Gladys wrote in her letter.

"He said, 'Please grandma, get me out. I want to come home.' "

After that, Gladys said the other man got back on the phone and told her to go to Walmart and get a "money gram" for $5,700 and send it to an address he provided in Canada.

By this time Gladys was more than a little suspicious, so she called her grandson and he answered. Of course he wasn't in Canada and didn't need help getting out of jail.

Gladys was lucky. She didn't fall for the scam, and went the extra mile to find out what was going on.

A few days later Gladys learned that the Indiana State Police issued a warning about the scam.

According to the ISP, callers get just enough information -- usually from the Internet -- to make people believe that they really are their grandson or relative.

The scam has been reported in several areas of Indiana.

Thanks to Gladys for sending me the letter. Spread the word that such a scam is out there, and hopefully no one will become a victim.