Horry County police say a telephone scam has resurfaced in Horry County. We last reported the same scam about one year ago.
They say the victims typically have grandchildren that are high school or college age. The scammers will call the house in the middle of the night, oftentimes waking up the victim.
When the person answers, a voice on the other line will call them "Grandma" or "Grandpa." They will then say they are out of the country on a school trip and have been arrested. They ask for help and ask not to let their parents know what is going on.
Another person will then get on the phone and introduce himself as a lawyer. He explains he can make the charge go away if the victims wire a certain amount of money.
Many times, the victim will send the money to keep their grandchild out of trouble.
The scam is not unique to Horry County. There are similar reports across the country.
The Horry County Police Department urges you to report all suspicious activity to your local law enforcement.
Western Union offers tips on protecting yourself from scams.
