Don't Be Fooled by the 'Grandson Scam'

Police say a Shorewood woman nearly fell for a popular scam Thursday targeting elderly woman, when a man posing as her grandson called asking for money.

The woman called police after receiving a telephone from a man claiming he was her grandson. The scam artist said he was being held by authorities in the Dominican Republic and needed money wired to him.

She told police that initially she believed him, but then became suspicious and the caller hung up.

The man said, "Grandma, do you know who this is?" and when the woman gave a name, he claimed he was that person, according to police.

The "grandson scam" is all over the country, but recently fooled a in a similar grandson scam.