How it works  

Scammers call pretending to be an officer and say your grandchild (or another family member) is out of the country and is in trouble. They could be hurt, or have gotten in trouble with the law. They, of course, need your help to get home safely by paying money. 

Red Flags 

You can’t talk to your loved one. They make a logical excuse as to why they are not available. Scammers are really good at putting pressure on so you don’t have time to see through their scam. 

What to Do

Call your loved one!!! If you can’t get ahold of them, call someone who knows where they are and can get ahold of them to verify they are safe. It sounds simple, but scammers are good at convincing you why there isn’t time to do that. If you are not sure, call us. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is happy to help you determine if a phone call you received is real. Call us Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm at (970) 244-3500 or after hours at (970) 242-6707.