Marietta police are warning area residents to be alert to a phone scam that recently cost at least one resident $5,000.
Police Capt. Jeff Waite said his office has received two reports of elderly individuals being targeted by scam artists posing as grandchildren.
"They make a phone call to the home - it's a young sounding male and he says something like, 'Grandma, I need money, I'm in trouble, and I'm going to jail if you don't send money,'" Waite said.
The caller then instructs the victim to go to Wal-Mart, which offers a wire transfer service.
"(One woman) went there and had a routing number he gave and sent $5,000," Waite said. "She had never asked for a name. She told us he sounded like her grandson."
When the woman went back to make a second wire transfer, Wal-Mart security became suspicious and notified police. In the meantime, another elderly woman arrived at Wal-Mart and attempted to send $6,500 to the same individuals. That transfer was also stopped.
"We have traced the account to Canada, but the money is gone," Waite said. "We've had this problem before. When money goes to another country, there is little we can do. It's why we really caution people to ask questions to find out exactly what is going on. By just asking a name, the first theft may have been prevented."
Waite said he anticipates more of the theft attempts and in varying ploys.
