Can anybody tell me what this is about ??

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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:28 pm

I live in Spain and a few friends of mine are getting this possible (more than likely) scam, where does it go from there ??

Quote:

Hello, I have had a very strange phone call this morning. A fast speaking Spanish girl rang , I only picked out the word "Policia". So, I asked if she spoke English, she said "wait" then hung up. 10 seconds later,she rang back, and spoke and passed me on to an English man ,possibly Indian,who said his name was "Pedro", the Chief of the Guardia Civil. He asked me who I was!!?? So,I asked what he wanted. He then proceeded to tell me that my son had been caught shop lifting at Gama 2 weeks ago, I said "No!" and told him I don't have a son!! He then said he was just translating for the police! And my son had been caught on CCTV. I said he wasn't the Police , he said he was. So, I said what is the scam? don't call again and hung up. They haven't called back, but I am worried, firstly how did they get my number? What is the scam? Extracting money/a fine or something? I know my boy wouldn't steal, and definately couldn't keep it a secret for 2 weeks, if he'd been caught!

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:15 pm

Just to clarify - is the item you quoted something you and/or your friends are receiving in your emails? Or is it an email from a friend of yours asking you what's going on?

If it's the latter, it's a variation of what in the US is called a "granny scam." The scammer calls random numbers, and if the person who answers sounds like an elderly person the scammer says,"Hi, it's your favorite grandson, and I'm in Canada, but I've been arrested and I need bail money."

If it's the former, I'm not sure, unless someone's email has been hacked and they're trying something new. Not sure where it would lead, though. Confused

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:35 pm

This is a phone call that has been made to ppl, i'm just quoting it as its off another forum i'm a member of and were all wondering where they're going to go with this. Are they going to meet you somewhere and ask for money ??? or..................?? no idea myself but the wifes had the same call and she's like hang on a minute the boys only 10 and is never out of our sight except at school and he's met/taken to the bus so never goes to a shop without us.

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:43 pm

They're hoping someone they call will have a teenaged or young adult son who just might be in trouble, and will be willing to send a sum of money by WU or MG to the "police" to secure his release, or to a "barrister" to defend him in court, or to the "store" to repay for what he took.

They're probably calling numbers in sequence or at random.

Best course of action is to alert everyone you know about this scam, especially those who have sons of that age group. Tell them to just hang up when they get such a call. If they're worried about their son, they can call him themselves. More than likely he's perfectly safe.