VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning elderly residents to be on the lookout for the newest scam sweeping the parish that is costing some residents their hard- earned money.

Sheriff Randy Maxwell said the scam is targeting senior citizens’ desire to help close family members.

According to reports from the CPSO, at least three local residents have reported receiving a phone call from someone who is allegedly overseas.

The caller pretends to be a relative, and states that he or she is suffering from a serious emergency and that he or she needs money wired to a local bank as quickly as possible.

CPSO investigator Capt. David Hedrick said thousands of dollars have been stolen this way from local residents.

Hedrick said the con artists perpetrating the scam not only have the ability to steal identities, but they also have the ability to research names of family members. They use this information to fabricate their complicated stories, Hedrick said.

“One caller used the approach that he was the grandson of the person being called,” he said. “He said he was in jail and needed money.”

Hedrick said because the caller has the information on the family names, the stories all seem believable.

Hedrick said callers play on the elderly because naturally, a grandparent wants to help a grandchild as quickly as possible.

Hedrick said that anyone receiving a phone similar to this should immediately contact family members to determine if the call is factual and if the relative or person mentioned is actually out of the country.

Hedrick said if the call is questionable in any way, contact the CPSO.

Hedrick also said that all cases of this nature are referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigations for assistance.

Maxwell said growing technology has made con artists more of a threat to everyone.

“Con artists are becoming more and more sophisticated in the use of the Internet and in identity theft,” he said. “They’ll use any information they can gather from this source to turn around and deceive people and steal as much money as they can.”

Maxwell said residents should always be cautious when someone calls asking for money.

“Even if you think there’s a possibility it could actually be a family member, please question it and confirm the story with another family member,” he said.

“Your life savings could be at risk.”