Staff reports 12:30
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 1:27 pm

DOVER, N.H. - In recent weeks the Dover Police Department has received numerous reports from Dover residents regarding a telephone scam that targets older people and is commonly referred to as the "Grandparents' scam."

Dover Police today alerted local media outlets about the scam in a press release.

In this unfortunately all-too-common scam, a telephone caller will claim to be a younger relative, and will request money to be wired to them at an out of state, or even out of country location. The scammer will often claim to have been arrested for drunken driving or as the result of a car accident. The caller will often claim the money is needed for bail or for a public defender.

It should be noted that legitimate public defenders do not require cash payments.

If a citizen needs to verify arrest of a relative, even out of state, they can contact the Dover Police Department or their local police department for assistance.

Any area residents who have already been victimized by such a scam are urged to report it to their local police.