ALBANY COUNTY — Once again, elderly residents are receiving calls from a scammer claiming to be a public defender in Albany County as part of a con.

The Albany County Public Defender’s office received a report about the scam from a caller in Pennsylvania, according to a release from the county executive’s office. The caller represented himself as an attorney in the public defender’s office and put a fake “grandson” on the line, asking for help.

Phone scammers have targeted the elderly and told them to go to local convenience stores to wire money or mail it. The public defender’s office does not call family members of those arrested, nor does the office take money to arrange for bond.

“Albany County does not and will not place calls asking anyone to wire money,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy in the release. “This shameless attempt to prey on our most vulnerable citizens is unacceptable. We have alerted local law enforcement agencies about this scam.”

Residents who receive such calls, are advised not send any money and to call their local police department to report the incident.