The BBB serving Central California is joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation in issuing warning regarding a scam involving families of deployed U.S Military personnel through social networking sites. Similar to the grandparent scam seen earlier this year, this scam also focuses on grandparents’ love for their grandchildren and their willingness to help if the grandchild is in trouble.
Significant personal data is available through social networking sites which users join by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with other people. The scam involves individuals using these social networking sites to contact relatives of deployed U.S. military personnel, most specifically grandparents. The impostor advises the grandparents that he is returning home on leave from Iraq and asks the grandparents to keep his presence secret so he can surprise his parents. A short time later, the grandparents are again contacted and the impostor advises them that he and a friend are stranded with a broken down car. He then asks the grandparents to wire a significant amount of money to cover the cost of the repairs.
“Even though their name is used, many people feel free to post large amounts of information about themselves, including pictures of their family, friends and pets, as well as their likes and dislikes,” said Doug Broten, president of the BBB. “They willingly share very personal data in the interests of internet friendships.”
The BBB urges caution when posting personal information on public websites. It is recommended that family members of U.S. Military visit social networking sites on which they have accounts to ensure that no exploitable information is available. Be sure to read the fine print of the user’s agreement to learn how information may be shared with others.
Additionally, the BBB recommends that all relatives should verify the identity of anyone who contacts them by asking specific questions known only to that person. Before giving out information on your end or before wiring funds, develop a code word or phrase to verify the identity of the person requesting help.