Grandparent scam reported in S.D.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Hughes County law enforcement reports at least two cases of a telephone scam that targets grandparents have been reported in the county.

Someone calls a senior citizen, claiming to be their grandchild and asking for money due to an emergency. The caller asks for a wire transfer of large amounts of money.

The scam was first reported in South Dakota last fall.

Hughes County Sheriff Mike Leidholt said one call involved a Pierre woman who was ready to wire more than $2,000 but was stopped by wire transfer employees who thought it was a scam.

Leidholt said the latest incident, reported Tuesday, involved a woman from Blunt who got a call from someone claiming to be her grandson but that she handled the situation correctly and checked.

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