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"Grandparent Scam" Targets Victims By Pretending Loved Ones Are Hurt

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A new scam targets elderly people by pretending loved ones, like grandchildren, are hurt and need help.

"It was so convincing that you got hurt in an auto accident," said Betty Blaha on the phone with her grandson Michael who was calling from Colorado.

Early this morning though, she got a phone call that really shook her up.

"He said, 'Nanny, I've been in an accident. I broke my nose and my jaw. I can't hardly talk,'" she said.

Shaken, she had no idea she was being hit up for cash. It's a rip-off the FBI calls "The Grandparent Scam."

"He said he ran into a lady, pulled out on him and he backed into her and wrecked the car, said he hit his jaw and nose," said Betty. "I mean, he made it very convincing."

Betty is all about family. She has eight kids and talks to all of them. On this particular day, it turned out Michael's mother Debbie was here visiting from Louisiana, so Betty handed the phone to her.

"Then I picked up the phone, he said in a nasally voice, 'My nose is busted,'" said Debbie. "I said, 'Oh my goodness.'"

Debbie got suspicious, texted her son on another phone, who told her he was OK. They realized someone was trying to scam them out of cash and they weren't biting.

However, the mystery is how did the scammers know her as "Nanny" and that her grandson was Michael.

The FBI believes con artists get the information from social media sites like Instagram, Facebook and Google searches.

The FBI says if you get this kind of call, do not send money to anyone anywhere -- call your local police instead.

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