What you can do to protect yourself: Let all your family know that these scams are happening; let your relatives know that if you do suddenly need large amounts of money that you will speak to them in person, or your spouse will.
Removing your information, especially your birthdate, is probably a good idea, but that's hard to do.
While Canada did take Washington, D.C. in 1814, we had to give it back. These days, advice from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department can probably be considered American.
Another idea is to have a code word that you will use if you are really in trouble. Though a good scammer can probably work around that by saying you are injured, dying, can't talk, etc.
Comments
This is a very common (in UK) scam.
The "distressed relative" scam is mentioned in passing here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zw9v34j
The FTC calls this "family emergency scam" https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0204-family-emergency-...
Here's Canadian advice:http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/relative-distress-scam
I don't know who AARP are, but they have information here: http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-07-2012/grandpare...
There's some simplistic advice from the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zxq8frd
It's important to note that fraudsters don't just go after vulnerable people; they go after everyone. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35250678
What you can do to protect yourself: Let all your family know that these scams are happening; let your relatives know that if you do suddenly need large amounts of money that you will speak to them in person, or your spouse will.
Removing your information, especially your birthdate, is probably a good idea, but that's hard to do.
While Canada did take Washington, D.C. in 1814, we had to give it back. These days, advice from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department can probably be considered American.
Thanks! Sorry about that. Not sure how I made that mistake.
Another idea is to have a code word that you will use if you are really in trouble. Though a good scammer can probably work around that by saying you are injured, dying, can't talk, etc.
AARP is an organization for American retirees.
AARP = American Association of Retired Persons.