With school out and college kids exploring the world, so-called “Grandparent Scams” are on the rise. These insidious scams prey on the reputation of grandparents as willing to help their grandchildren and the possibility that their memories might be weakened by age or illness. Elder abuse scams, like this one, result in over $35 billion lost each year. How they work: Scammers employ several methods to find their victims. Stereotypically old-fashioned names in a phone book are used as targets, as well as folks on lists for certain publications or services that cater to the elderly. Once the…