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CLEVELAND – There’s a phone scam targeting grandparents across the country. So far, there have been 85 reported complaints this year alone in Ohio.

It’s a scam that leaves the average grandma and grandpa in the hole about $7,000.

How does it work?

Scammers research your family online, finding out your grandchild’s name, age and some other information and then they make the call.

“You’re a grandparent. You get a call from your granddaughter, who almost immediately breaks into tears. She identifies herself as your granddaughter, Sarah. How are you? I’m not doing well. She breaks into tears and has a story of some crisis. I’m in London, I’m in Atlanta, I’m in this trouble. There’s always a story,” explains Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

People who fall for the scam end up wiring cash to complete strangers.

DeWine suggests grandparents ask the caller some personal questions that a stranger would never know the answer to before wiring any money.