Cobourg Police are warning of a recent elder scam, in which a grandparent was defrauded of $5000.

Authorities say a man impersonated a police officer, claiming that their grandson had been arrested and that he needed $5000 for bail.

The man apparently attended the victim's home to retrieve the money.

Police say fraudsters target older, vulnerable people with urgent situations as a way to trick victims out of large sums of money.

Police and government agencies will never demand money over the phone or in person.