They didn't lose any savings, but two elderly residents believe they were contacted on the telephone by con-artists intent on ripping them off.
Both men, in their 70s, prevented losing out by withholding their personal information from suspected criminals seemingly intent on acquiring it.
Their hopes are other residents may be alerted before it is too late.
"I think people my age - the elderly and grandparents, especially - need to know about this," Charles Lichter, of Montoursville, said. "I'd hate to see someone spend that money."
When Lichter was contacted by a man claiming to be his "favorite grandson" who needed money to bail himself out of legal trouble in Mexico, he wondered which of his 10 grandsons it could be.
The answer Lichter received from his inquiry of which grandson was a flat refrain of "your favorite grandson."
The caller's tone of voice made Lichter say, "Is that you Adam?" In so doing, he gave just a small piece of personal information, but enough to give the caller something to continue the conversation on.
Pretending to be "Adam," the caller said he needed freed from a Mexican prison.
Lichter said he grew especially suspicious when Adam said he only wanted to talk to him about the problems, not other family members.
Minutes after his call with Adam ended, Lichter got a call from another man claiming to be a Mexican police lieutenant.
The lieutenant reportedly said, "Adam got into trouble and he needs money, he needs $4,700."
Lichter told the alleged lieutenant his monetary request required a considerable sum, and sending it was something he'd have to think about.
"He said to go to Western Union, and send the check to Adam in Mexico City, Mexico," Lichter said.
Instead of sending the money when he got off the phone, Lichter reported the conversation to local police and contacted family members about it, including his actual grandson Adam.
The real Adam said he was safe and sound at home in North Carolina and was unaware of any activity in Mexico.
A few days later, Lichter heard from the Mexico crew again, who asked him if he sent the money.
He told them he decided not to send it.
"I said I thought about it, but it was not my Adam," Lichter said.
Dwaine Gipe, of Loyalsock Township, said he was contacted by a suspicious person. A woman with a foreign accent said she was calling on behalf of Home and Home Stack Cleaning Service.
"They indicated it was a regular time of year to get my (chimney) stack cleaned," Gipe said.
Although he realizes spring is the time of year to clean an exhaust stack, Gipe said the woman's method of questioning made him suspicious enough to keep the conversation to only a few minutes without giving any personal information.
"She asked me questions like what kind of stack do I have and do I have a stack cover," Gipe said. "I would think anyone from a legitimate company would know what kind of stack I have."
Gipe said he prefers to stay with the same chimney sweep, who charges the going rate for the service, about $130.
About half that amount was all the woman on the other line was asking for, such a low price Gipe became even more wary.
Unsure if it was a criminal attempt, Gipe said he didn't report what happened to police.
A representative of the company who's helped him arrange chimney sweeps in the past told Gipe no one from the company attempted to contact him when he called their office.
