A Rohnert Park man lost $6,000 this week after falling victim to a “grandparent scam,” according to local police. The scammer pretended to be the man’s grandson, using fear tactics and a false sense of urgency to deceive him into handing over the money.
The scam began with a call from someone claiming to be the man’s grandson, who said he’d been arrested for driving under the influence and was too scared and embarrassed to inform his parents. Although the voice didn’t quite sound like his grandson, the scammer explained it away by claiming injuries from an accident had affected his speech.
Shortly after, the man received another call from someone posing as a law enforcement officer. This person demanded $6,000 for the grandson’s bail. Under pressure, the victim withdrew the money from his bank and handed it over to a driver sent by the scammers.
While this might sound far-fetched to some, these scams are highly sophisticated and can target anyone, regardless of age or intelligence, the Rohnert Park Police Department said in a statement. Scammers use personal information found online and even advanced AI technology to create a sense of urgency and confusion, tricking people into acting quickly.
Police are urging the public to protect themselves by safeguarding personal information, taking time to verify claims instead of reacting out of fear, and avoiding unsolicited contact through email, text, or phone calls.