1 of 1- unclefester
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Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
Just read a story about former Montreal Gazette sports columnist Tim Burke who fell victim to the notorious grandparent scam.
Mr. Burke who is in his late 80's received a phone call from a man claiming to be one of his sons asking for 4 thousand dollars to be brought to an address because he's been caught driving impaired. Mr. Burke said even though he had some doubts he carried through with the instructions and took a lengthy and expensive taxi ride to the designated address leaving the money in a mailbox as instructed. Later that same day he spoke to his real son who was supposedly in trouble with the law. Of course the son assured his dad the story was a hoax and he had been fleeced.
Tim Burke was not only a highly regarded sports journalist but had also covered the courts and crime beat for the Gazette during his career. He absolutely wanted to tell his story as a warning to all of us.
If you have elderly family or friends help them. Be vigilant.
- RadioActive
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Re: Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
I got one of those calls once, with a seemingly young guy whining, "Hello grandpa, It's me. I need your help."
I let him go on for a while about his "arrest" and how he needed bail money, before I let him have it.
"I'm not a grandfather and I don't have any grandchildren," I told him plainly. (Both true.)
I then called him a number of unprintable names and he hung up.
There must be a special place in hell for these scamsters. I hope they take up residence there soon.
- Hansa
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Re: Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
Sometimes there are happy endings to this scam.
Last edited by Hansa (September 22, 2023 2:32 pm)
- SpinningWheel
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Re: Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
RadioActive wrote:
I got one of those calls once, with a seemingly young guy whining, "Hello grandpa, It's me. I need your help."
I let him go on for a while about his "arrest" and how he needed bail money, before I let him have it.
"I'm not a grandfather and I don't have any grandchildren," I told him plainly. (Both true.)
I then called him a number of unprintable names and he hung up.
There must be a special place in hell for these scamsters. I hope they take up residence there soon.
You should have pretended you had a grandson and told him to rot in jail because he already owes you $5000 and he's bleeding you dry! then blasted the radio into the phone and hung up. 
Last edited by SpinningWheel (September 23, 2023 9:29 am)
- unclefester
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Re: Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
And have just read that Mr. Burke the subject of this thread has passed away in Montreal.
Sympathy to his family
Mr. Burke was 90
Last edited by unclefester (December 21, 2023 8:05 pm)
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Thread Starter- Saul
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Re: Grandparent Scam Ensnares Retired Montreal Journalist
How about arrange a drop-off (with fake money) and alert the police ... or perhaps, um, not (alert the police)...