BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — You may have received a phone call from someone saying, "your grandson is in trouble," now multiple agencies in Erie County say, "just hang up!"
If this sounds familiar, that's because it is.
There have been similar scams in Western New York, including as far back as 2016 when an elderly couple in Allegany County lost $12,000, as well as scams in 2017, and as recent as last year.
Simple advice? If you, your parents, or your grandparents get one of these phone calls, you should just hang up and report them to authorities.
7 Eyewitness News Reporter talked with some Cheektowaga seniors who are fed-up with all the scam calls they get daily.
"They are horrible people. It is a shame that they are doing that," said Sue Sieber.
Sieber said she hung up on a caller saying "Grandma, grandma" because she doesn't have any grandchildren.
Francine Pawlicki received one of the fake calls with the person on the other end saying "Grandma! Grandma! Grandpa! Grandpa! It is Randy."
Pawlicki said the caller wanted $1,600 because he was "in jail." The Cheektowaga senior was so angry that she grabbed a whistle and blew it into the phone.
The caller then hung up.
