I got a call one morning from what sounded like my old friend from whom I have kept in touch with for years. He started asking about my back, as he had back surgery years ago and knows I have chronic back pain. He then told me that he has a cold he can't shake and had asked a friend to drive him to buy cough drops.  His “friend” was speeding and was pulled over by the cops.  They searched the car and found two kilos of heroin in the trunk.  They were taken to jail which (he said) was where he was calling from. He said he needed money to get out of jail and needed my help.  He asked me to stay on the line and I would talk to "Sgt. Michael Wilson."

“Wilson” told me that he needed $2,000 in order to put him in front of a magistrate, where he would be found not guilty and released this afternoon.  I would have my money back within 48 hours. 

At this point, the hook was firmly embedded in my lip. He told me to go to buy two $1,000 gift cards, and as soon as I did, call this number (604-351-3466), read him the serial numbers on the gift cards, and my friend would get to the court and be released. So I'm hooked, but I still had questions in the back of my mind.

So I went to my bank and withdrew $2,000, and as the teller was counting the money I decided to tell her my story.  She looked at me funny and said as she waved the wad of bills at me, "You know, you ought to be careful.  There a lot of scams going around."  (If she hadn't said this, I would have lost the money)

So instead of leaving for Brunswick – I was already to go with my dog to Walmart – I decided to go home and do some thinking.  I wanted to call his house and talk to his wife, but I had neglected to write down his new number the last time he called.  So I called the local police and talked to Officer Larry Brown and Chief Bob Hasch (both whom I know well) who confirmed this was an old one and several people in town had fallen for this (or one similar) in the past.  I think they called it the “granny scam” where the “grandson” calls and moans to his grandmother that he is in jail and needs money to get out.

I decided to let my "friend" rot in jail.  I got the proof I needed a couple of hours later.  "Sgt Wilson" had asked me when he could expect me to call with the numbers so he could set up the probate session.  I said I certainly would call by noon. No sooner had noon come, when I got a phone call from a "private number." When I answered, they immediately hung up, realizing if I was home and not calling from Walmart, the jig was up.

I went back to the bank, deposited the $2,000, and thanked the teller profusely.

Later, I looked up the 604 area code and it turned out to be Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Chief Hasch said that these scammers can even hack phone numbers. This morning I got a call from a 633 exchange but a name I didn’t recognize. Since it was 633 I answered it, whereupon I was subjected to a recorded ad for “an all-expense paid vacation for me and my family to Florida or some place.”