Crooks May Have Used Facebook As Tool To Help Scam Post Falls Family
POST FALLS, Idaho - Last week a Post Falls family fell victim to a phone scam that has been around for years and police say it is becoming more popular in this area.
The family didn't want to be identified but they say their son, who is serving the military in Iraq, had his identity stolen and the scammers called his grandmother living in Arizona.
The scammer, claiming to be her grandson, told her he had been involved in a car accident and wrecked the rental car with no insurance.
He needed $3,000 immediately or the police were going to put him in jail. The grandmother panicked and called her daughter-in-law. The family ignored many possible red flags because they were so concerned for their loved one's well-being that they ended up wiring the scammer the money.
When they learned the caller wasn't really their son they were mad and embarrassed. They wondered how these scammers were able to get so much information about their son and worried about the impact this might have on his 74-year-old grandmother who was targeted.
"I mean this really frightened her, and it continues to frighten her because the idea that somebody has more information than we normally think people may have about us is frightening to her," said the soldiers mother.
Police continue to investigate this crime. They don't want to speculate too much, but police say the scammers could have possibly taken some personal information from the soldier's public Facebook page or other forms of social media. They want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to be careful what is put out on the Internet.
Most Popular StoriesMost Popular StoriesMore>>
Pierce County woman wakes up to stranger in her house rubbing her face
Pierce County woman wakes up to stranger in her house rubbing her face
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - A Pierce County woman was terrified over the weekend when she woke up to a stranger in her house rubbing her face. She ran to her neighbor's house and the neighbor contacted the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Arriving deputies spoke with the neighbor who called 911.
>>PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - A Pierce County woman was terrified over the weekend when she woke up to a stranger in her house rubbing her face. She ran to her neighbor's house and the neighbor contacted the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Arriving deputies spoke with the neighbor who called 911.
>>Thief steals military man’s gift for little brother
Thief steals military man’s gift for little brother
SPOKANE, Wash. - A Spokane mother is heartbroken because what a thief took from her family was so much more than just a piece of mail. One of her sons serving in the military, stays connected with his little brother through video games, so he sent him one as a gift. However, the little brother never got it because the thief took it right off their front porch.
>>SPOKANE, Wash. - A Spokane mother is heartbroken because what a thief took from her family was so much more than just a piece of mail. One of her sons serving in the military, stays connected with his little brother through video games, so he sent him one as a gift. However, the little brother never got it because the thief took it right off their front porch.
>>Florida photojournalist finds kidnapped 8-month-old baby
Florida photojournalist finds kidnapped 8-month-old baby
KHQ.COM - A photojournalist in Florida found an eight-month-old baby boy who was kidnapped during a carjacking. WFLA's Michael Egger found the infant in a condo parking lot Monday while working on an unrelated story with a reporter. The baby was alone in his car seat with a bottle tucked underneath his arm. The reporter called 9-1-1, and police showed up 30-seconds later.
>>KHQ.COM - A photojournalist in Florida found an eight-month-old baby boy who was kidnapped during a carjacking. WFLA's Michael Egger found the infant in a condo parking lot Monday while working on an unrelated story with a reporter. The baby was alone in his car seat with a bottle tucked underneath his arm. The reporter called 9-1-1, and police showed up 30-seconds later.
>>Ohio teen fatally shoots 11-year-old brother in 'premeditated act'
Ohio teen fatally shoots 11-year-old brother in 'premeditated act'
STREETSBORO, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say a 13-year-old boy has fatally shot his 11-year-old brother in suburban Cleveland, and police are describing the shooting as an apparent "premeditated act." Streetsboro police say officers were called to a home around 9:30 p.m. Monday. The 11-year-old died at a hospital. Police say the 13-year-old has been charged with aggravated murder in Portage County Juvenile Court.
>>STREETSBORO, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say a 13-year-old boy has fatally shot his 11-year-old brother in suburban Cleveland, and police are describing the shooting as an apparent "premeditated act." Streetsboro police say officers were called to a home around 9:30 p.m. Monday. The 11-year-old died at a hospital. Police say the 13-year-old has been charged with aggravated murder in Portage County Juvenile Court.
>>Pet reunited with owner following Spokane dognapping
Pet reunited with owner following Spokane dognapping
Spokane, Wash. Cherie a one-year-old German Shepard who's gentle nature -- and love of car rides, Got her dog-napped "I was inside and I heard a big commotion outside from my bigger German Shepard Kona," said Cherie’s owner Ashleigh Zibell. When Ashleigh went outside Saturday afternoon Kona was distressed - she had jumped the fence and was barking for all she was worth. That's when Ashleigh noticed Cherie was missing "When I got around to the driveway...
>>Spokane, Wash. Cherie a one-year-old German Shepard who's gentle nature -- and love of car rides, Got her dog-napped "I was inside and I heard a big commotion outside from my bigger German Shepard Kona," said Cherie’s owner Ashleigh Zibell. When Ashleigh went outside Saturday afternoon Kona was distressed - she had jumped the fence and was barking for all she was worth. That's when Ashleigh noticed Cherie was missing "When I got around to the driveway...
>>Parents in Spokane keep kids home to protest sex-ed
Parents in Spokane keep kids home to protest sex-ed
SPOKANE, Wash. - Some parents in Spokane joined others across the country to protest the way sex-ed is being taught in school. It was part of a movement called “Sex-Ed Sit Out.’ Those who joined the effort Monday say they don’t like the way school is “Sexualizing our children.” KHQ spoke with one mother who wished to remain anonymous but says she doesn’t agree with the material that is being taught in schools, specifically birth
>>SPOKANE, Wash. - Some parents in Spokane joined others across the country to protest the way sex-ed is being taught in school. It was part of a movement called “Sex-Ed Sit Out.’ Those who joined the effort Monday say they don’t like the way school is “Sexualizing our children.” KHQ spoke with one mother who wished to remain anonymous but says she doesn’t agree with the material that is being taught in schools, specifically birth
>>
