It happened the other day in our small village. I mostly live in the city, I occasionally visit my parents, just like most young people, so in the village there are practically only grandparents. They have no one to ask for help if something happens, they are already confused by the rapid development of technology and are not good with new phones, and there are no people around who could teach them everything. That’s how Grandpa Richard almost became a victim of voice phishing.
I was helping my mother peel potatoes in the street when a frightened neighbor, white as chalk, ran into our yard.
– That’s it! – he almost started crying from the doorstep. – My grandson is in trouble! They will put him in jail, for sure!
My mother was first to respond, poured a cold mug of water for my grandfather, and sat him on a chair next to me to breathe and calmly explain what happened.
– Just now my grandson called, he said he had an accident, hit some expensive foreign car, and needed money urgently. I did not have that much from birth, but I said that I would give everything I have, just let him come, and my grandson says that I need to dump it on the card and right now. How am I going to dump it on the card? I don’t know how, I have all my money that way, in my stash and in cash…
My mom started shaking her head, saying that she would see what we have in money to help.
– Mom, wait!” I shouted. – Richard, did you call your grandson? Does he have a car?
My question stumped my grandfather.
– He’s twenty, I wonder what he could buy for himself…
– But did you call him back and make sure he was the one who called you and asked for money? It could turn out to be a phone duck – they are trying to catch you in order to extort money.
My grandfather didn’t believe me right away. I could see that he was offended that I questioned his grandson’s words, but I even gave up the potatoes for the sake of the case. In Richard’s phone we found his grandson’s number and called back. Just as I thought, the guy had never been in any kind of accident, and he doesn’t even have a car.
– Come on, Grandpa, I’m only twenty, how could I have money for a car? I live in a dormitory…
The man calmed down only after a half an hour conversation with his grandson and his son who also confirmed that the child did not have a car and had not been in any accidents.
What are these deceivers on the phone, that a parent does not believe his own child and grandson, not understanding where and who is fooling him. It’s good that I was in the village, and that I talked sense into both my neighbor and my mother, or else we would have all been left without money.
The worst thing was that by the time I got to the police, the fraudsters’ phone number was blocked, and the bank card was closed and would not accept payments. Catching them is very difficult, and the poor elderly people suffer because they are not prepared for such deceptions.
