Kauai police are alerting residents of a phone scam targeting the elderly.

A report was filed over the weekend of a 73-year-old woman who received a call from a man claming to be her eldest grandson. He told her he was in trouble and needed bail money because he was arrested in Canada.

Police said the woman withdrew $1,700 from her bank account and mailed it to the address the caller provided.

When the woman told her daughter about the call, the daughter said the grandson was neither in trouble nor in Canada.

Police said the woman received a call from the same man Monday, asking if she had mailed the money.

Kauai authorities called the Royal Mounted Canadian Police for assistance. They informed Kauai police that this type of phone scam is prevalent in Canada.

To report a fraudulent call, contact Kauai police dispatch at 241-1711.

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