SAN RAFAEL, CA --
SIGN-UP: Get breaking news sent to you Several San Rafael residents have received phone calls that further the scam and other residents have been victims of the swindle, police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said. A caller pretends to be a grandchild who needs money because he has been arrested, in a car accident or has another emergency that requires wiring him cash, Rohrbacher said. The caller doesn't want his parents to know and insists the grandparents do not tell other family members, but sometimes the caller poses as a friend or a lawyer who is assisting the grandchild, Rohrbacher said. Callers ask the money be wired to Canada but victims have been directed to send the money to other U.S. locations, Rohrbacher said. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre reports 435 American grandparents were enticed to wire $2,2 million to Canada last year, Rohrbacher said. Grandparents are urged to call and get the name of the jail or hospital where the grandchild purportedly is when they get the scam call and call there directly. Family members also can develop a password to verify themselves to one another over the phone, Rohrbacher suggested.        Today's latest headlines | ABC7 News on your phone Follow us on Twitter | Fan us on Facebook | Get our free widget
