Scam Alert: Andover Police Warn Of 'Grandchild In Jail' Scam

ANDOVER, MA — Andover police warned Thursday of "grandchild in jail" scams, which they said are on the rise in the area.

In this phone scam, the scammer says the victim's grandchild "has been arrested for a serious offense and needs money for bail," the department said.

"It is arranged for a runner to pick up the money from the grandparent, and deliver it to the attorney arranging bail," the police said. "The scammers are very convincing, and use real personalized information that they have gathered, mostly through social media."

This is not how bail works in Massachusetts, the department said.

"Please contact Andover Police to verify any phone calls of this nature, or to report other possible scams," the police said.