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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-01-19, Page 19'Grandparent scam' alive and well A local senior is wan residents to beware of fraudsters, er she fell victim to the infiunous'grandparent scam' last week, Betty Stephenson, a3, had already sent $3,000 to Western Union before realizing she'd been duped by a 4Ahone scammer posing as her 2lnitwoit "1'm afraid there will be other sen- iors in Sarnia who will be caught the same way, and won't even realize it. said Stephenson, who said the inci- dent occurred Wednesday morning when a ratan, claiming to be her grandson, called her at home. "It sounded just like him, and he used his name," she said. "Ile even called me Nana, which is what any grandson calls nu':' The man on the phone explained that he'd been involved in a motor vehicle accident in'A)mnto and was facing a fine for impaired driving. Her actual grandson is a student liv- ing in London, "It didn't sound right, but, when you really believe you're talking to your grandson, you go along with that he's tellingyou," she said. The than asked that she send him $3,000 through Western Union, and gave her a name to send it to. "And he asked nye not to call his father because he wanted to tell him in person," said Stephenson, who got off the phone and attempted to send the money, but it never went through. "This chap called me Bah&'i Faith "When the human soul soare'th out ot'this transient heap O/'dust and rist'th into the world qf God, then veils will /fill away'_ crud all things unknown be'/int' will he made dear; and hidden truths he understood" Kw intimation on devotional gatherings call 519-238-8092 www•ca,bahai,org www.baltailambtonshores.org Come Worship with Us Knox Presbyterian Church 2 Main St. Hayfield Reverend Susan Moore Phone 519-565-29I3 Sunday January 23 Worship Service at 11:00 a,m. "A tie duerh with a great big hem" Grand Bend United Church Main Street at Queen 519-238-2402 Minister: Rev. Harry Dishcr Organist: Elva McIntyre www,gnunfhend-grecnwaypc.com Sunday January 23 11:00 a.m. Epiphany 111 Guest Speaker Filed Wirt from Western onion and said they'd recognized the name 1 was sending to, and it was blocked, because it was a fraud," she said. She was then put in touch with her actual grandson, who was at home in London. 1 le was just dumbfounded when 1 talked to h1m," said Stephenson. "It's just unreal -- how they get all that information" Western Union arranged to have Stephenson's money returned, but not everyone is as lucky, said Rich- ard McLeod, fraud specialist with the Canadian Anti -Fraud Centre. "Unfortunately, we come across too many victims a day here, where it's too late, and they've already sent the money," he said, noting one Highway 21 at Ausable Cut Church 519-243-2144 Worship and Sunday School (m►rse?:r provided) January 23rd Special Guest Speaker: Pastor Roger (last Mld-week service & Bible study Thursday 2:30pm Wecirkistil* Jllhddiry'$P, loot 1'' : Lakeshore Advance '1'9 particular caller, who lost upwards of $1 million over the course of sev- eral transactions. The 'grandparent scam' is one of the most common scams encoun- tered at the agency, said McLeod. "With today's technology, there's more opportunity for the crime," he said, noting Internet sites like Face - book and Twitter, and ancestry. com,which are easily accessed and allow scanumers to obtain personal information. Others, however, don't have any information at all. "'They do strike out. Sometimes they'll call an elderly person who has no grandchildren, and they'll just hang up." he said, noting that seniors should always ask callers specific and personal questions, that only their actual relatives would know. St. Peter's Lutheran Church (ELCIC) Zurich. Ont. Rev. Nadine Schroder-Krani Organist Mrs. Christine Eagleson Secretary Jennifer Sclxllcnhcrgcr, Ullieti 519-23h-4697 Sunday, January 23 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:20 a.m. Cottee Hour 11:00 a.m. Wo the people of St. Klee!. are callwl, by the grace at ( iod, to tic a welcoming ,C worshipping congregation, growing In truth through the gospel R reaching out to our community & the world, Grand Bend Church of God Chane worship ►►'ith us Highway 81 and Gill Road Phone 519-238-2142 Sunday, January 23 Brian Laidler 9:30 - 10:30 Adult Sunday Schtwl 10:30 - 11 a.m. Coffee Time 11:(1(1 a.m. Worship Service Tues. 7:(X) p.m. Prayer & Bible Study w ww.Krandbendehurchofgod,orK Everyone Welcome Wheelchair Accessible Zurich Mennonite Church 37818 /,urich Ilene all Rd.,' st of Zurich 519-236.4933 www,kingsticldccm nton.ca I.eod ['tutor: llm Itohenv 1M(' • Poston limn Rocs Sunday January 23 9:30 a.m. Worship Gathering Pastor Tim Doherty 11:00 am Sunday School Everyone Welcome Zion Lutheran Church LC -C I 148 Frederick St., Dashwood Rev. John E. 'Irembulak 519-237-3548 Sunday, January 23 9:3() a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Adult Bible Class 11:00 a.m. Family Worship Everyone Welcome www.hay/net/-hnz hnz.Whay,nct II 'United Church .3. of Canada Minister: Thiry Whitson-Badtm Sunday January 23 Calvary in Dashwood 9:30 a.m. Emmanuel in Zurich at 11:00 a.m. Muffin Time Tues. from 10-11 am. Everyone Welcome "Every day, we're going to get calls here about the grandparent scam, he said. "It's a given -- it's like knowing you're going to have supper today -- that's how much we know it's going to happen" ney@theu►l>sert er,ca "Let us not love in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) *tslMltr Nati* *M hetlMwhllasiiiske* = _ Ilmoserreillilikr002110. ettadmilliakbilaer Community Church Service Directory Rejoice Together ST. JOHN'S BY -TI -1E-LAKE A".00 AM GNU.CN Highway. 21, north of Grand Bend Orrice 519-238-2489 st. johnscn'hay.net TateRnerend Hither (Inotainie R. limo* Sunday, January 23 The Third Sunday after the Epiphany 10:00 a.m Holy Eucharist ALL WELCOME Sundayat 10:50 Experiencing `all by itself' Growth FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH littdnostfteititt,Foroct Sunday School at 9:40 am Evening Service at 6 pm Series: LIFE HURTS - 00D HEALS 4. Defeat in temptation hurts I', r- -1 1- 1 1' - 1 1 i