The Marshall County Sheriff's Office says deputies have recently received complaints about the “grandparent scam." In a typical grandparent scam, a con artist calls or emails the victim posing as a relative in distress or someone claiming to represent the relative (such as a lawyer or law enforcement agent).

The "relative" of the grandparent explains that he or she is in trouble and needs their grandparent to wire them funds that will be used for bail money, lawyer’s fees, hospital bills, or another fictitious expense. In the latest instance, the caller stated that they were the victim's grandson and needed money. In this case, the victim did not have a grandchild and knew it was a scam.

The sheriff's office says this particular call came from a Cleveland, Ohio number, but scammers can make it look like they are calling from any number. Anyone who receives one of these types of calls should call their local law enforcement agency.