BOSTON — The Boston Police Department is alerting the public about an imposter scam that is primarily targeting seniors.
Since January, the department has reported several cases in which victims received phone calls from someone claiming to represent “Direct Energy.”
The callers told victims their electricity bill was overdue and that service would be terminated that day.
Victims were then instructed to purchase gift cards to make a payment.
Police issued a community alert to educate residents on how to handle phone scams.
Officials advise that if a call seems suspicious, individuals should hang up immediately.
Scammers making monetary demands, particularly through gift cards, MoneyGram or Western Union, are signs of fraudulent activity.
Authorities encourage residents to discuss these scams with family and friends to raise awareness.
They also advise documenting the phone number of any suspicious calls and reporting the incident to police.
The caller ID name and phone number displayed can be easily manipulated by scammers, officials said.
Residents are urged not to answer calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.
If a call is legitimate, the caller will leave a message, allowing individuals time to verify their identity.
Victims of phone scams are encouraged to report incidents to the Boston Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 or by visiting www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
