POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Police Department says it has received several reports from people receiving scam phone calls about relatives abroad being jailed and soliciting money to get them released.

The police said the scammers will frequently target grandparents.

Frequently the caller will pose as a law enforcement official or legal representative, and will mention the name of a grandchild of the target on the phone.

The most recent calls were traced back to mobile phones in the Montreal area.

This is not a new scam, nor is the Canadian origin of the calls, but the Potsdam police have been alerted by recent attempts to defraud people here.

They have advice to avoid being victimized:

• Resist pressure to act quickly.

• Try to contact the grandchild or another family member to determine whether or not the call is legitimate.

• Never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail -- especially overseas. Wiring money is like giving cash: once you send it, you can’t get it back.