New Immigrant Bail Scam

[John & Mary 1]

My 83-year-old grandmother just received a telephone call from someone who proclaimed to be calling on behalf of my husband, John. This person claimed that John was in a holding tank in Canada and needed my grandmother to wire him $5200.

Of course this was COMPLETELY untrue-- John was home quietly minding his business in Georgia.

We are all clueless as to how someone could have connected him to my grandmother, and I'm sure my mother has called the police by now, but I wanted to see if any of you have experienced anything similar.

[Krikit 1,164]

Uhhhh..... no. lol

If they call again, have her tell them she'll do it and get all their details.

[John & Mary 1]

New information: this person claimed TO BE my husband, and claimed to be in Canada attending a wedding with a friend where he'd gotten drunk and arrested.

Anyone who knows us would know that my husband wouldn't/couldn't go to Canada right now anyway without AP, and they'd also know that if we had to go to someone for money, it wouldn't be my grandparents. So this criminal is more than likely a stranger.

We've only been married for three weeks... how would an outside party know who my grandparents are and know that John is my husband, if not through immigration documents?

[onuche 0]

New information: this person claimed TO BE my husband, and claimed to be in Canada attending a wedding with a friend where he'd gotten drunk and arrested.

Anyone who knows us would know that my husband wouldn't/couldn't go to Canada right now anyway without AP, and they'd also know that if we had to go to someone for money, it wouldn't be my grandparents. So this criminal is more than likely a stranger.

We've only been married for three weeks... how would an outside party know who my grandparents are and know that John is my husband, if not through immigration documents?

I have seen this happen and it had even happened to me. Do you use international call cards? if yes then thats most likely where it originated from. Calls made from those cards pass through networks where, sometimes people actually listen to our conversations (believe it or not)

Someone called my uncle, and told him i had asked for him to give this said person 100 pounds, he being naive gave the person 100 pounds and then called me to inform me that he just gave my "friend" a 100 pounds. I was livid, i mean what if the person had asked for 1 grand?

So please, whenever you use those international call cards, be carefull what details u talk about over the phone.

[reeses16 8]

That is scary indeed. I saw a story on a morning new show a few months ago that was similar. It wasn't related to immigration, but someone called this elderly woman claiming to be her grandson who was stuck in Canada (either car trouble or bail, can't remember which). I don't recall how the scammers knew the name of her grandson and her phone.

I would advise your grandma to make sure her mail is secure. Maybe get a P.O. Box if she gets her mail at her house. Also, did the people use your hubby's last name as well? How did they refer to your grandmother; did they call her by her first name or call her grandma? John is a fairly common name maybe they were just gambling that the person they called would know someone named John.

[Thai Rath 1]

WOW, how scary! I hope your grandmother knew it was a hoax and didn't worry that your husband really was in trouble.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Thai Rath

[Jamaican JNR 2]

My 83-year-old grandmother just received a telephone call from someone who proclaimed to be calling on behalf of my husband, John. This person claimed that John was in a holding tank in Canada and needed my grandmother to wire him $5200.

Of course this was COMPLETELY untrue-- John was home quietly minding his business in Georgia.

We are all clueless as to how someone could have connected him to my grandmother, and I'm sure my mother has called the police by now, but I wanted to see if any of you have experienced anything similar.

No, I havent experienced anything like that before; however, there are scammers all around and you should be careful.

[John & Mary 1]

We looked into it and it's a VERY common scam-- an elderly couple in my grandparents' town lost $30K to these scammers last month. My poor grandmother did believe it and was so worried about my husband! Luckily my mother intervened before any money changed hands.

I don't think we were targeted because John is an immigrant, but it did make the whole scenario easier for my grandmother to believe. Hell isn't hot enough for these people.

[rheanick 42]

My 83-year-old grandmother just received a telephone call from someone who proclaimed to be calling on behalf of my husband, John. This person claimed that John was in a holding tank in Canada and needed my grandmother to wire him $5200.

Of course this was COMPLETELY untrue-- John was home quietly minding his business in Georgia.

We are all clueless as to how someone could have connected him to my grandmother, and I'm sure my mother has called the police by now, but I wanted to see if any of you have experienced anything similar.

My husband and I received a call early august in our separate mobile phone informing us that my sister in law is in an emergency and needs our credit card number. My husband and I did not give our credit card number.

When i was able to get hold of my sister in law. She is OK and not in an emergency. It was a SCAM.

Edited September 12, 2009 by rheanick

[DeniseBill 4]

Omg that is just horrible... Why would people do such things, to poor old lady's that are too nice for this world. To unknowing ppl..... saying your sister in law is in an emergancy... What people do to get money outa someone.. it is ridicilous and horrible...