BLOOMINGTON — Bloomington police are cautioning residents to be aware of a scam involving fraudulent phone calls asking for help.

The calls, usually placed from Canada, offer a story about an unexpected turn of events, such as an accident, and lead to a request for money to be wired to the caller. Elderly people have been targeted by the scam.

The caller claims to be a loved one of the scam’s target. In at least one case, the caller used the correct name of a victim’s grandson but was not really the grandson, said police.

Police warn residents against sending money to callers without verifying the circumstances and identity of the person asking for money.