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Shrewsbury police issue scam alerts, warn residents of fraudulent schemes

1 min read

SHREWSBURY — Shrewsbury Police Department is urging residents to be aware of multiple scam attempts that have been reported throughout the community.

The department has identified several schemes where scammers are impersonating utility companies, law enforcement, online romantic interests, relatives in distress, and legitimate businesses through emails and texts.

One prevalent scam involves callers pretending to be from local utility companies like SELCO, threatening to disconnect power unless immediate payment is made.

Authorities remind the public that legitimate companies do not demand payment over the phone or through gift cards.

Another scam reported involves individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers telling residents they missed jury duty or have legal issues and must pay a fine to avoid arrest.

The police department emphasizes that law enforcement will never solicit payment over the phone for such matters.

Online daters are being warned of romance scams, where fraudsters build trust and then request money for made-up emergencies or travel expenses.

Similarly, the “grandparent” scam involves a scammer calling and pretending to be a family member in need of urgent financial help for bail or medical expenses.

Phishing attempts through emails and texts are also on the rise.

These messages may appear to be from banks, delivery services, or retailers and often contain malicious links or attachments designed to steal personal information or install malware.

To protect themselves, residents are advised never to share personal or financial information over the phone, email, or text, and to verify suspicious requests through official contact sources.

They should avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading attachments from unverified sources.

The Shrewsbury Police Department encourages anyone who encounters suspicious activity to report it to them at 508-845-1212 or to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

They assure the community that they are there to help and answer any questions regarding potential scams.

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