The frozen food section of a grocery store in Gualala, Calif., on April 6, 2023. In San Mateo, police are alerting residents to a self-checkout scam targeting elderly shoppers by secretly charging extra items to their cards.

The San Mateo Police Department is alerting residents to a troubling scam unfolding at self-checkout aisles in local retail stores, one that often targets elderly shoppers.

In an advisory Wednesday, the department said the scam starts with a seemingly friendly interaction. The suspects approach their victim inside the store, strike up a conversation, and gradually build trust. They then ask for help paying for essential items like food, medicine, or childcare products. 

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