By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
CLARKSVILLE —
A Clarksville couple is warning others after a con artist pretending to be their grandson took thousands of dollars from them.
David Crockett, 79, reported the scam to the Clarksville Police Department on Jan. 15. His wife, Ann Crockett, said she answered the phone Jan. 11 and a man identified himself as her grandson.
“I answered the phone, and it sounded like him. I said, ‘Paul, how are you doing?’” Ann Crockett said.
The man sounded frantic as he told her he had been in a car wreck in Barcelona, Spain, and was in desperate need of money. He asked for $2,335 for car repairs, but said not to tell his parents what had happened. The man called later that day requesting $2,189 for hospital bills. The next day, he asked for $1,589 for car parts and then another $2,100 for a surgeon.
The Crocketts wired four payments — more than $8,200 — through Western Union to Barcelona. After the money was sent, David Crockett had contact with his son. He learned that his grandson, Paul, was in the United States and had not been to Spain.
The News and Tribune attempted to call the phone number they were given for contact, but the number has been disconnected.
The Crocketts know it is doubtful they will get their money back, but they hope others will learn from their experience.
“Just be careful and ask questions if you have any doubts at all,” Ann Crockett said. “If we had thought to ask a question that only our grandson would have known the answer, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Senior citizens across the country have fallen victim to the so-called “Grandparent Scam.” The Federal Trade Commission warns people to always call a number you know is legitimate to check out the story of a loved one requesting money. Scam artists will try to pressure you into acting immediately before you can verify their story.
If you encounter an impostor scam, file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
