Phone Scam Targets Grandparents

Beware of a new phone scam that is circulating and targeting grandparents saying that their grandchild is in trouble. This scam is pretty elaborate too, stay alert. According to News 10 ABC, people are receiving scam calls stating that they are speaking with their own grandchild who is in jail. The warner comes from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office that claims the scammers are disguising their voices claiming to be the caller's own grandchild.

They tell the caller that they are in jail on drug charges, can't talk long and need a significant amount of money. They say that the bail is anywhere from eight thousand to ten thousand in some calls. They are also offered a bail discount of two to three thousand dollars if they act quickly.

The scammers will then tell the grandparents to go to a local store and purchase ebay gift cards in up to five hundred dollar increments and to call a number back to give the redemption codes on the back of the cards.

If you have received a call like this, you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement agency. They remind residents that you will never be asked to pay a law enforcement agency by gift cards.