FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The Indiana State Police are warning of recent “emergency scams” where the scammers make up a fake emergency situation in order to demand money.

The situations may vary, including faking an arrest, a mugging or even a hospitalization. The targets are led to believe that an emergency has happened and money is needed immediately to help the situation. The Better Business Bureau mentions the target are often the elderly, and is often called the “Grandparent Scam.”

They say the best way to avoid the scams is to know the red flags, don't disclose too much information, ask personal questions to make sure the call is authentic and communicate.

Often the scammer is not a relative but claims to be. Asking a lot of questions that only a family member would know could help identify a scam. You should also check with family members to make sure the person who is calling is actually the person they're claiming to be.