KEOKUK, ILL. -- Tri-State area residents, beware of the Canadian (Grandparent) Scam. That's the word from Keokuk Police Chief Tom Crew.

Here's how the scam works. The scammer calls an elderly victim and claims to be their grandchild. The caller says they were arrested in Canada and needs money to get out of jail.

Chief Crew says the department was alerted to 2 of these calls last month. One victim had withdrawn $6,000. The other had sent the money, but with he help of the Keokuk Police and the transfer company, were able to stop the transfer.

Chief Crew recommends that grandparents verify the information with other family members and report the incident to police.