PAYSON, Utah — A new scam targets older adults and manipulates them into emptying out their bank accounts. The Payson Police Department took to Facebook on Sunday to warn against the fraud.

The PPD said fraudsters contacted older adults and posed as someone from the government. The fraudsters claimed that the victim’s bank accounts were compromised and advised the victims to empty their accounts.

From there, the fraudsters got the victims to send cash or purchase gift cards and hand over the card’s information.

The PPD said fraudsters told victims not to tell anyone about the situation.

“Unfortunately we are often not made aware of the scam until the person has lost everything,” said the PPD in its Facebook post.

Police said the best way to avoid the scam was to make loved ones aware of it.

Related:

• Social media scam targets children for explicit pictures, money

• New scam: borrowing a phone and accessing Venmo

• New scam in Duchesne County includes threat on life of a family member

Follow @samanthagherr