The holidays are fast approaching and this time of year, scammers are looking to make a quick buck by taking advantage of unsuspecting victims. 

Grandparents are one group in particular being targeted this holiday season. The Reno Police Department has received numerous reports about senior citizens being deceived by the "Grandparent Scam" to send money to scammers pretending to be relatives in distress.

Scammers call you on the phone, act like they're your grandchild in need of help to get out of jail or some other type of emergency, and prey on your concerns to take your cash. 

"They play on the emotions really, we have a very vulnerable population with our senior citizens, especially in this area in Reno," said Lt. William Rulla with the Reno Police Department. "Good-hearted, good-natured people tend to believe some of these folks."

Senior citizens, 70 to 90 years of age are being targeted the most. 

Tim Johnston, the President with the Better Business Bureau said, "Seniors are typically home and they're more prone to answering the phone call." 

Johnston said it's social media that gives fraudsters an idea on how to target you. "They're getting detailed information, and hopefully using that to get grandma or grandpa to cough up hundreds, if not thousands of dollars."

There are few signs to look out for before withdrawing or wiring large sums of money. 

"If you can call that family member to verify it, do it. Call their house, their cell phone, call another family member on your behalf to verify it. But don't send money right way, try to resist that temptation," said Rulla. 

But it's not just the deceptive phone calls that are impacting seniors, holiday scams are also a problem. Like shopping online with your credit card or donating money when it's the most giving time of year. 

"Scammers are in tune to that and they'll try to get you to give. They'll come up and ask you in the parking lot, can you give to a particular charity? So make sure that before you go out and shop or before you give to somebody, that you're prepared who you're giving to and who you're buying from," said Johnston. 

The Reno Police Department urges that you file a report if you do encounter scams, because it can help them keep track and try to prevent them in the future.

Police offer these suggestions: 

•    Resist the pressure to make a decision immediately

•    Verify the circumstances with a family member or a trusted friend

•    Confer with a family member or a trusted friend before withdrawing and wiring large sums of money

•    Make sure to inform all your family members and friends, who are in this targeted group, about these types of scams

•    You should report what has happened even if you believe the perpetrator to be outside Nevada or the United States. You may need a police report in your later dealings with your bank or credit card company

To file a report with the Reno Police Department, call (775) 334-2226 or go to  http://www.reno.gov/government/departments/police 

(The Reno Police Department contributed to this report.)