Scammers using the same ruse – telling the victim that a family member is in police custody – have convinced at least three elderly residents to hand over thousands of dollars recently.

In the most recent case, a scammer told an elderly Marion man, who wishes to remain anonymous, that his nephew had been arrested.

The caller then put a man on the line that pretended to be his nephew.

“He was told his nephew had been arrested, but he’s got a clean record and if you send us ‘x’ amount of dollars we’ll release him without any trouble,” said Council on Aging Director Sue Schwager.

Convinced his nephew needed help, the resident followed the scammer’s instructions to put $1,000 each on two separate pre-paid credit cards purchased at a local pharmacy.

Schwager said the victim then gave the scammers the credit card numbers and security code over the phone.

He then called family to check on his nephew and learned of the ruse.

After calling the credit card companies the victim’s money was refunded.

“This is the third person who has fallen for that,” Schwager said. “If I know of three there has to be a lot more. This man was able to have his money refunded. Others haven’t been so lucky.”

Other residents told Schwager they were targeted with this particular scam but hung up.

Marion Police Chief Lincoln Miller said his department is aware of the calls, which are known in law enforcement as the “grandparent scam.”

The callers will gather information on the target, such as the names of grandchildren, children and other details to trick the victim. Miller said social media sites such as Facebook have made it easy for scammers to gather this information.

He said anyone receiving a call like this should verify with family before sending money. Often, police are unable to get the money returned, he said.

“Once that money is wired it’s gone. It usually ends up outside of the country,” he said.

Anyone receiving a call from somebody seeking money for a relative’s release should record the incoming number before hanging up.

Schwager said that’s good advice; however, tricking someone into thinking that family is in trouble triggers an emotional response, not a rational one.

“They catch you off guard,” Schwager said. “It’s such a shame that these people are preying on our elders.”