San Mateo police warn of scam targeting seniors at self-service checkout lines

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- The San Mateo Police Department is warning the public about a series of crimes targeting senior citizens.

Department spokesperson Andrew Peek says the latest scam involves people who approach elderly residents while they're in line at self-service checkout lanes.

"They build up rapport with the individual, and then kind of hit him with 'I need food for my family' or 'we need some sort of baby supply' or something like that," said Peek.

Peek says after the victim agrees to purchase the item, the scammers will then distract them and ring up several other things before running off.

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SMPD says they've had at least two instances of something like this happening at the Target at the Bridgepointe Shopping Center.

Outside of the store Wednesday night, some customers told us they were frustrated to hear about the scam.

"It is very awful. And it's kind of like stopping people from helping people anymore," said Wendy Feng.

But there are ways to protect yourself, says Amy Nofziger of the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

"Any time someone approaches you whether in person, over the phone or at your front door and you don't know what they want, you kind of get nervous and scared and you don't know what to say. So in this situation I want people to understand it's okay to say no," said Nofziger.

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Nofziger says if you know about a scam happening in your area ahead of time, her best advice is to have a script already rehearsed in your mind.

"It can be anything like no I can't do that for you today. Or I have to check with my daughter who works for law enforcement," said Nofziger.

As for San Mateo police, Peek says it's important for them to get word about the scam out early.

Trying to inform and protect as many people as possible.

"These are great community members. This is a great community that we have. We don't want them to be victims of this," said Peek.