On Friday, Nov. 22, I received a phone call from a young man who was trying to convince me he was my grandson. I did not recognize the person’s voice. The person said he was in Florida for a wedding and had been involved in a two-car collision. His nose had been badly damaged from the accident and other parts of his body, too. I told him he needed to contact his father, but he said, Oh, don’t tell Dad - he will be mad. He sounded fearful, but his father, my son, is not to be feared.
The young male said the driver of the other car was a woman, 6 months pregnant, and was in the hospital. If she lost the baby, it would be even more difficult for him. He needed $2,000 fast. He told me he had a lawyer, a James Johnson. I said I’d think about it, and hung up.
The phone rang again. The man said he was James Johnson of the Public Defender’s Office. By now I had written down all the phone numbers, the case number, and the name of the woman. Mr. Johnson gave me more details, such as my grandson was under arrest for DUI and reckless driving.
I called my son, who called his son, and we quickly discovered my real grandson was not involved and the whole thing was a scam. I have heard of such a scam being played out successfully.
Nevertheless, I can understand how a scared and generous grandmother might be tempted to fork out $2,000 fast, and then, perhaps, eventually much more.
So, grandmothers, beware!
Elisabeth Stoner
Milford
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