Lena Callender was totally convinced her grandson was sitting in a jail in Mexico City and desperately needed her help.

She tells us, "He could be one of those beheaded guys and the body just thrown on the side of the road."

Lena says the caller claimed to be an attorney with the U.S. Embassy. He knew her grandson's name and even let her speak to someone claiming to be her grandson.

She was told if she wired $2,400 to Mexico City and didn't tell anyone, he'd get home safely.

Lena says, "I thought I was a smart woman until I hooked up with these people and I found out just how slick they were."

Later, Lena was asked for even more money and became suspicious.
She called her grandson and learned he was just fine.
And the phone calls were coming from Canada.

We've warned you about the grandparent scam before. Here's what's new.

Crooks are getting smarter. They're discovering grandkids' names and other pieces of info from search engines like Google and from social media sites like Facebook.

So if you're going on vacation don't make it public.

Con artists can use your postings against you.

Also, they're now telling victims to wire money directly to their grandkids...Using the grandkids' names. Then they use fake ID's to pick up the cash.

Seniors should ignore the warning not to tell anyone. They should also call and check on their grandkids.

Seniors should ask the callers some detailed questions that only family members knows.

And get the names and numbers of the officials demanding money. If they refuse to give it to you, you know it's a scam.

Keeping those new tactics in mind might save you from becoming a victim.