Tag: loss

It’s a sad fact that the elderly are prime targets for scammers. One of the scams seniors fall for most is the fake arrest of a grandchild. Here’s how one tough granny fought back. 

Scammers have a bottomless bag of tricks, including impersonation, taking advantage of emotions and creating a sense of urgency. What happens when a scammer combines all three dirty tricks? Three unfortunate women found out. Here’s the story.

United by loss

Losing a loved one is never easy, and some choose to keep the departed’s ashes to remain close. Some decide to take things further and turn the cremation ashes into works of art.

Three women told USA Today about a scam they fell for that truly hit them where it hurt. Their experiences differed slightly, but the end game for the scammer was the same.

First victim

Kary Ide of Maryville, Tennessee, found an artist on TikTok who said he could mix cremation ashes into a painting for free. Kary got in contact with the artist, who called himself Chad. She sent her mother’s ashes to an address in Woodstock, Georgia and discussed the details of the painting with Chad.

A week passed, and Kary contacted Chad, who said he had a contract in Cambodia. Later on, she received an email claiming to be from Cambodia’s customs department. They said they had a package containing a portrait and ashes that needed to be “cleared.”

Kary would have to cough up $3,576 to regain her mother’s ashes. She refused to pay, and the scammer kept bothering her for the money via email.

Second victim

Jocelyn Cronin of Petaluma, California, shipped her husband’s ashes to the same address after finding Chad on TikTok. In this case, a woman contacted her, saying she represented Chad.

Jocelyn then received the same email from Cambodia customs, demanding $3,576 to claim her husband’s ashes. Chad contacted her via text when she didn’t pay, offering to pay for part of the total. He even told her she could pay him in installments.

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