When Edith Fischer received a phone call in January from someone claiming to be her grandson saying he needed her to send money to Canada, she was wary.

About 18 months earlier, Fischer, 85, received a similar call by a person claiming to be her grandson and needing cash quick.

In the most recent scam attempt, the man said he wrecked his friend's car in Canada and needed $4,600 to pay for traffic citations and damage.

The caller wanted Fischer to send the money via Western Union.

While Fischer let the man think she was complying, she knew the story rang false.

The man's voice did not sound like anyone she knew, so no money was forthcoming.

"He could sit next to Western Union all day," Fischer said.

She received several more calls throughout the day.

The caller also claimed Western Union would need $150 for sending money for such a purpose.

Western Union's Cranberry Township office confirmed Fischer's suspicion that there are no such additional fees.

Her other clue was a previous experience from August 2008.

That time, a man claiming to be her grandson said he wanted $2,300 after being caught fishing without a license in Canada. After laying the groundwork, that caller was quickly replaced by another man claiming to be a police officer confirming the story.

Fischer knew her grandson, who was home from military service in Iraq, lived in Texas. She wondered why he would be in Canada.

When Fischer called her grandson's number, he answered the phone.

Her grandson said the caller was definitely not him.

"Grandma I wouldn't go fishing in my back yard," he told her.

Fischer said those pulling such scams seem to know they're calling someone elderly.

"How do they know we're old people with grandchildren?" she asked. "They have to have a way of knowing."

Fischer said other types of scams have warning signs. Supposed monetary prizes, for example, state the "winner" must pay cash upfront to receive the larger prize.

"Well, that ought to tell you something," she said.

A Middlesex Township couple last month also avoided being taken in by a phone scam.

In that case, a person again claimed to be a grandchild needing money fast. A second person soon got on the phone claiming to be the relative's attorney.

The couple later verified the call did not come from their grandchild.

Scam artists, including those from other countries, stayed busy throughout 2009 bilking county residents.

Butler state police report there were 249 theft by deception cases in 2009.

Two other theft by deception cases in which the perpetrator was based in Canada occurred in December.

The first was $4,800 stolen from a 76-year-old Connoquenessing Township man.

The caller claimed to be an attorney representing the 76 year old's 22-year-old granddaughter, who supposedly was jailed following a DUI arrest.

After the caller claimed the cash was needed to prevent the granddaughter from spending the night in prison, the Connoquenessing man wired money to Canada

He then discovered his granddaughter still was in Pennsylvania and had not been involved in an accident nor been arrested.

In the second case, a 79-year-old Parker Township woman sent an unspecified amount of money to a person claiming to be her grandson.

The man said he was in prison and needed cash for bail.

After the woman wired the money to Montreal, the deception was discovered.

State Trooper Ronald Kestin said such scams originating from Canada occur about once a month.

He said Canadian authorities don't cooperate with state police on a case-by-case basis, so the reports are forwarded to the state attorney general who sends a list of compiled cases to Canada.

Kestin said there are steps elderly residents can take to avoid phone scams.

He said the person receiving the call should do what Fischer did: call the relative using their regular phone number.

Kestin said the possible fraud victim should not call the phone number left by the person claiming to need help.

"Never use that phone number," he said.

Kestin said people should also not give out personal information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, to someone they don't know.

"Don't give it over the phone," he said.

Karen Sickler, protective service supervisor for the county Area Agency on Aging, agreed.

Sickler said the county doesn't receive as many "grandparent scams" with people claiming to be relatives as it does fake prizes requiring money be sent to the caller to claim the prize.

She said there are numerous ways for seniors to handle the caller once they suspect a scam, such as saying you have to consult with an attorney, asking for a phone number or just hanging up.

"Legitimate sweepstakes and lotteries never require a payment," Sickler said.

She suggested those receiving an inordinate number of calls consider getting caller ID, switching to an unlisted phone number or even blocking some incoming calls.

The sweepstakes and lottery scams that have come to the attention of agency on aging have been originating from Canada and Jamaica.

Sickler said fraud victims typically don't report the thefts themselves.

"Most of the reports are from relatives or friends of the victims, who are too embarrassed," she said.

Sickler said an indication a scam may have occurred to another person is if that individual becomes delinquent their bills.

"If you see suspicious withdrawals from a (senior's) bank account, call (the agency)," she said.

Sickler said relatives often turn to the agency on aging because of the awkwardness involved.

"A child has a tougher time talking to a parent about it," she said. "It's easier for us. It's not their children telling them what to do."

However, even the best of intentions don't stop some people from handing away their money to strangers.

"Some refuse to listen," Sickler said.

She agreed with Fischer that scam artists have compiled lists of seniors.

Sickler said the elderly are targeted because they tend to have more cash available after having paid off mortgages and car loans.

She said most scams against seniors go unreported.

"The reports we're getting in are a drop in the bucket," Sickler said.

Anyone wanting to report an elderly county resident being scammed, can call the agency on aging's 24-hour line at 724-283-6955 or the office number at 724-282-3008 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

For anyone wishing to learn more about home improvement, telemarketing and sweepstakes scams, the Lutheran Services Society will hold a session from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Cranberry Township Senior Center.