Lubbock Woman Warns of Phone Scam
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: February 13, 2013
Eufemia Flores said she got a phone call last week, from a man who claimed to be her nephew. She was ready to believe him, until her granddaughter stepped in to help.
When the man called, he did not volunteer a name. So Flores asked if it was Arturo, and he said that's what his name was.
"And I said 'Well you don't sound like him,'" Flores said to the caller, who said, "'Oh I've been sick, that's why my voice is like this, but I want to come see you because I'm on vacation."
Flores did think it could be her nephew. Then, another red flag, when the man claiming to be Arturo said his mother's name was Amelia, which Flores didn't recognize.
"I said 'I don't know anybody by the name of Amelia, I know Avelia,'" Flores said. He responded, "'That one, that one, that's my momma.'"
The man told Flores he would call the next day to plan a visit, but when he called back it was Flores' granddaughter Amanda who answered.
"I talked to him and I let him know how I felt about that, and not to call this number again," said Amanda Flores.
Amanda had recently heard of a similar scam, and knew with a big family, her grandmother would be a prime target for scammers. Now, she keeps an ear out to make sure nothing else happens.
"Next time for her to make sure it's definitely who she is talking to, she knows who it is, she knows that it's the person, and definitely the next day not to send money," said Amanda.
The man never asked the Flores' for money, but when Amanda filed a police report, the police told her this was how the scam usually worked: the man first tries to gain the family's trust, then asks for money the next day.
Here are some tips to keep this type of scam from happening to you:
- Don't give out any personal information
- Check with other family members to make sure the situation being described to you is real
- Don't volunteer a name if the caller doesn't give one out
- Don't be afraid to ask for more information if you are unsure of anything
When the man called, he did not volunteer a name. So Flores asked if it was Arturo, and he said that's what his name was.
"And I said 'Well you don't sound like him,'" Flores said to the caller, who said, "'Oh I've been sick, that's why my voice is like this, but I want to come see you because I'm on vacation."
Flores did think it could be her nephew. Then, another red flag, when the man claiming to be Arturo said his mother's name was Amelia, which Flores didn't recognize.
"I said 'I don't know anybody by the name of Amelia, I know Avelia,'" Flores said. He responded, "'That one, that one, that's my momma.'"
The man told Flores he would call the next day to plan a visit, but when he called back it was Flores' granddaughter Amanda who answered.
"I talked to him and I let him know how I felt about that, and not to call this number again," said Amanda Flores.
Amanda had recently heard of a similar scam, and knew with a big family, her grandmother would be a prime target for scammers. Now, she keeps an ear out to make sure nothing else happens.
"Next time for her to make sure it's definitely who she is talking to, she knows who it is, she knows that it's the person, and definitely the next day not to send money," said Amanda.
The man never asked the Flores' for money, but when Amanda filed a police report, the police told her this was how the scam usually worked: the man first tries to gain the family's trust, then asks for money the next day.
Here are some tips to keep this type of scam from happening to you:
- Don't give out any personal information
- Check with other family members to make sure the situation being described to you is real
- Don't volunteer a name if the caller doesn't give one out
- Don't be afraid to ask for more information if you are unsure of anything
