New phone scam targets the elderly

State officials say an Olmsted County woman has lost $7,000 in a scam that is primarily targeting the elderly.

Public Safety Department special agent John Willems says the scam begins with a phone call from someone claiming to be the victim's grandchild or another close relative. He says the caller then claims they've gotten into some trouble in Canada.

The caller tells the person, "They've been arrested and they need either front money to pay a fine to be released from jail or they need money to post for a bond or bail, so that they can be released, and that they plead with the grandparent not to tell their parents," explains Willems.

Willems believes the perpetrators are getting family names and information from local obituaries.

He says people who think they may have been targeted in the scam should contact police.

There have been reports of six similar incidents around Minnesota.

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