(Yuba-Sutter, CA) — The Yuba City Police Department said Thursday that there have been “several reports of elderly victims being manipulated and having their debit cards stolen” within the last month.

According to a press release from the department, suspects involved in these scams first look over the shoulders of their victims to see them input their personal identification number for their debit card while at checkout. The suspects then approach the victim, telling them they dropped a $20 bill and hand it to them. The victim is re-approached at a later time by the suspects, normally while walking through the parking lot, and requests they return the $20 bill.

Officials said the reason suspects do this is so that victims pull out their wallet while another person distracts the victim. This gives them the opportunity to then take your debit card from your wallet.

Police say this specific scam has been reported to several law enforcement agencies across the state and they remind you to be aware of your surroundings while using a debit card and entering personal information in a public place.