The Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Bethlehem announce the arrest of three people who were involved in two separate “grandparents scams.”

On July 27, at approximately 6:09 p.m., troopers responded to Juniper Court, East Allen Township, Northampton County for the report of a phone scam. The 88-year-old homeowner reported she received a phone call from someone identifying himself as her grandson who was in prison and needed money to get out of jail. Another man, identifying as the grandson’s attorney, spoke on the phone and requested $6,500 cash from the homeowner.

After withdrawing money from the bank, the homeowner contacted state police who arrested Elvis Isaac Polanco, 25, of Allentown when he came to the homeowner’s residence. Polanco was charged with the two counts of theft by deception, a felony 3.

He was arraigned on July 28, and bail was set at $65,000.

On Aug. 9, at approximately 11 a.m., troopers responded to Main Street, Washington Township, Lehigh County for the report of a phone scam.

The homeowner, an 87-year-old woman reported she received a phone call from someone identifying himself as her grandson who was in prison and needed money to get out of jail. Another person, identifying as the grandson’s attorney, spoke on the phone and requested $8,800 cash from the homeowner.

The homeowner contacted state police who arrested two people who attempted to retrieve the money from the homeowner when they came to the homeowner’s residence:

• Christopher Robles Negron, 29, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, and Edwin Al Torrez Herrera, 27, of Philadelphia.

Both were charged with theft by deception-false impression, a felony 3.

Their bail was set at $15,000.

State police are urging anyone with similar incidents to verify the status of family members and to contact police if this situation occurs.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov.