Ind. couple lose thousands in new scam

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Indiana State Police are warning of a new scam, one that targets grandparents. So far, someone has targeted two Indiana families.

One couple talked exclusively with 24-Hour News 8. The elderly couple has 7 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and live on social security checks.

The couple didn't want to be identified, but they want their story told in hopes that it won't happen to anyone else.

At 73 and 74 years old, life in rural Wayne County, Indiana should be simple. One afternoon last week, a phone call quickly complicated their lives.

"When I answered it I said hello and he said sort of laughing you know who this is. And I thought well that voice sounds familiar. Said mama this is Josh," said the victim.

Josh is the name of one of their grandsons.

"He says well I'm in trouble. I'm up here in Canada and I've been in a wreck," said the victim.

He asked them to wire $2900 via money gram at Wal-Mart to an address in Canada.

"1630 Wilson Avenue, Toronto, Canada I've got that embedded in my brain," the victim said.

Then he called back and needed more money.

"He said the bond was $6300," said the victim. "For his bail, for his bail he said he'd get 90% of that back to get out of jail."

The couple came back to Wal-Mart where they filled out more forms for money gram and wired more to Canada this time over $6000.

The person on the phone was not the couple's grandson. When Josh returned the messages they left on his cell phone, the couple learned they had been scammed.

Police said this wasn't the only couple scammed. Someone in Franklin County received a similar call and lost several thousand dollars.