WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) – The West Valley Police Department is warning of a new scam which they coined the “grandparent scam.’

Officials say the scammer calls potential victims claiming to be a loved one injured or in jail. The scammer then makes an urgent request for money.

Here are some tips to keep yourself safe:

• Make sure you verify the caller’s identity by asking questions a stranger could not possibly answer
• Even if the potential scammer tells you to keep it a secret, tell another family member
• Never send cash, gift cards, or money transfers because once the scammer gets the money, it’s gone