Scammed

I heard a sad, sad story today about one of our park residents, an 84 year old lady, who fell for a scam perpetuated by greedy, unethical, and ruthless people. She received a phone call telling her that her grandson was in jail and needed $4,000 in order to be bailed out. She was instructed to take the money to a local restaurant and leave it on the seat of her unlocked car. The recipient would then come into the restaurant to talk to her.

It may seem unbelievable that anyone would fall for such a ridiculous scam but this isn't a new trick. It's one that's been inflicted on the elderly and the gullible for a long time.

This lady has a daughter she could have contacted and who would have told her to ignore the call but she chose to deal with this herself (along with an acquaintance who could be involved in the scam but we don't know for sure). She foolishly followed the instructions she was given, the money disappeared and the recipient never came into the restaurant. Pitiful.

How do people like the scammer live with themselves? Where is their conscience and their honor? It makes me sick.

To any of my readers who happen to be elderly, please don't be too trusting. There are people in this world who prey on us simply because we can be vulnerable.