Grandparent Scam Explained by a NY Fraud Defense Lawyer
The grandparent scam is targeted at the elderly who have grandchildren. The scam may involve contacting an elderly person via phone, email, or other online method of communication. Once the senior citizen is on the phone, the caller claims to be a grandchild who is in trouble. The goal is to get the grandparent who has received the call to wire money.
If you are accused of being involved with a grandparent scam, you could face serious criminal charges. The FBI encourages those who have been victimized by this scam to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center and federal authorities may conduct an investigation. Participation in the scam is also illegal under state law. If convicted, you could be imprisoned. You also face the potential loss of money and assets, which can occur as part of the civil forfeiture process even before a criminal conviction is handed down.
Bukh Law Firm, PLLC provides legal representation to those who have been accused of involvement in grandparent scams. Give our NY fraud defense lawyers a call right away if you have been arrested or are under investigation and you are concerned about the possible penalties you face.
What is the Grandparents Scam?
The grandparent scam begins with a phone call, email, or other method of contacting a senior. The caller or
In some cases, the caller or emailer who is running the scam will not claim to be a grandchild, but will instead claim to be someone calling on behalf of a grandchild. The caller may claim to be a lawyer, a doctor at a hospital, or an arresting police officer. The grandparent is told some story about the trouble the grandchild is facing, with the only solution involving the grandparent sending money.
Often, information is obtained from social media in order to give more credence to the phone call. Using Facebook or other online social networking sites, a great deal of information can be found including grandchildren’s names, parents’ names, and details about hobbies. With this information, callers can make very believable phone calls to grandparents.
When the grandparent receives the call, if the grandparent falls for the scam, money is sent. Callers can also claim to be other relatives, like nephews or nieces, although the grandchild claim is especially common, which is how the scam got its name.
Penalties for Participation in a Grandma Scam
When the phone or the Internet is used to make contact in the grandparent scam, this can lead to charges of wire fraud. Defendants can also face other federal penalties for involvement with wire transfer schemes. Both state and federal charges for fraud and theft are also possible after involvement with the grandparents scam. The federal charges just for wire fraud could carry a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment, or 30 years under specific circumstances like when a financial institution is defrauded.
The consequences of conviction can be life-changing, so it is imperative to try to avoid penalties through effective negotiation of a plea agreement or by securing a not guilty verdict.
A NY Fraud Defense Lawyer Can Help Those Accused of Grandparent Scams
Bukh Law Firm, PLLC has extensive experience providing representation to clients who have been accused of involvement with grandparents phone scams. We will fight aggressively to protect your freedom, to help you avoid financial loss, and to get the best outcome you can when faced with serious criminal charges. Give us a call right away so we can get started helping with your case.
