GIRARD, Ohio - A phone scam aiming to exploit grandparents has been reported in Girard.  

Area Agency on Aging 11 says a Girard man received a call Thursday from an individual claiming that his grandson was in legal trouble.

The scammer, according to the agency, then told the man he would need to transfer $4,000 to keep his grandson from going to jail.   

The agency says that similar calls targeting grandparents have been going around for more than a year.

Scammers, they say, usually sound threatening over the phone and often know the name of target's grandchild.  Information like that, Agency 11 reminds, is usually available on the internet.

Agency Director of Communications Lisa Solley says that, "The best thing to do if you receive a call that is soliciting money is to hang up. Don't continue the conversation because they are very good at pressuring you."

Individuals who receive such scam calls are also encouraged by the agency to report the incident to their local police department.