Hermitage police are asking area residents to be on the lookout for scam artists who typically target elderly people.

A 72-year-old Sharon woman was approached by two women while she was walking at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of the Hermitage Towne Plaza, police said.

One of the women held a green box, and the other said they had found it filled with money. The box was opened and appeared to contain a large sum of money.

One of the women said her boss was an accountant and advised them that they get someone else to count the money. They offered to split the money with the Sharon woman.

The Sharon woman said she wasn't interested and walked into Giant Eagle, where she notified someone, who called police.

In such scams, the elderly person is typically asked to put up some of his or her own money.

Police described both women as black and well-dressed. One was about 25, good-looking and of medium build. The other was about 35, heavy-set and with bangs.