Jefferson County sheriff’s officials are issuing a strong warning to grandparents to beware of a recent scam targeting them.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Joni Money said the scam goes like this: Someone calls the grandparent pretending to be their grandchild. The “grandchild” tells their grandparent that they have been in an accident and/or they are in jail and need bond money.  They will then tell the grandparent that an attorney will call them to pick up the money.  The grandparent meets with the supposed “attorney” and gives them the requested cash.  Later the grandparent finds out that their grandchild is fine and has not been in jail or in an accident.

One of the cash exchanges, Money said, was caught on video on Sept. 9, 2020 at the Flying J in McCalla.  The suspect met the victim and took $14,000 in cash and left the scene. The vehicle in this instance was possibly a black SUV with dark tinted windows.  The suspect appeared to be of Middle Eastern or Indian descent but had no discernable accent.

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