The Carroll Police Department reports a common scam is once again making the rounds in the region. The “grandparent scam” follows a well-worn playbook. A caller pretends to be a relative in trouble and will request money for a variety of reasons, such as paying bail bonds, hospital bills or other similar purposes. According to law enforcement, these calls are generally very convincing and may include family information gathered from a grandchild’s social media activity to make the call seem more legitimate. Money is usually requested in the form of prepaid debit cards or through wire transfers, and authorities say this is the main indicator the call is a scam. Prior to sending money, contact other relatives to confirm a grandchild truly is in need. Families are encouraged to talk with elderly parents, grandparents and other relatives about the scam and encourage them to hang up when something seems amiss. Unfortunately, these types of scams are notoriously difficult to investigate and any money sent is often never recovered. If such a call is received, individuals are encouraged to hang up immediately and contact your local law enforcement.