After hearing reports of scams being played in Howard County, the county government has issued a warning to residents.
"If something seems out of the ordinary, it probably is, but you can protect yourselves and others by becoming more aware of these con-artists' tactics and ploys," County Executive Ken Ulman said in a statement.
One scam involves people calling or e-mailing residents to tell them their grandchildren are in trouble and need money.
A person claiming to be with the Canadian police recently contacted a Howard resident to tell them their grandson was being held in jail and would be released if the resident sent a $2,950 money wire transfer for bail, according to a county news release.
"The resident was ultimately convinced to wire the money to the Dominican Republic where she was told it would be transferred through the U.S. Embassy back to Canada," a county news release stated.
The resident reported the incident to county officials — as did another resident who received a similar call from someone pretending to be her grandson, saying he had been arrested in Ontario for a traffic violation.
"This scam takes advantage of seniors who are quick to act when asked by their grandchildren for help," county consumer affairs administrator Rebecca Bowman said in a statement.
To avoid becoming a victim of what is being called the "Grandparent Scam" or similar scams, the county is urging residents to verify the legitimacy of any call or e-mail by asking the person a question that would be hard for an impostor to answer, such as their pet's name, and to not send any money unless you are sure the person requesting help is actually your relative or friend.
The other scam circulating in the county involves door-to-door solicitors offering to repair driveways or perform other home improvement services. Scammers generally do not hold the proper state or county licenses, so residents are advised to always ask to see the solicitor's registration card and contractor's license.
For more information or to report a potential scam, contact the Office of Consumer affairs at 410-313-6420.