WENHAM – Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli and the Wenham Police Department wish to warn residents of recent scams and offer safety tips to avoid falling victim.
Wenham Police have received an increase in reports from residents who have been approached by scammers pretending to be home improvement contractors or sales representatives, who exhibit high-pressure sales tactics.
Often these scammers approach someone’s home offering services such as house maintenance, and request payment up front. The individuals then do not perform any improvements or give residents what they paid for.
Wenham Police would like to remind residents that solicitors must have an ID issued by the department and should ask to see it if approached by an individual. If the individuals cannot provide proper identification, residents are encouraged to report them to the police for further investigation.
Wenham Police would like to share the following tips about avoiding scams from the Federal Trade Commission:
- Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
- Scammers say there’s a problem or prize. They might say you are in trouble with the government, that you owe money, that someone in your family had an emergency, or that there is a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there is a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it. Often times scammers will offer to do work for a specific amount, and then never follow up on the work.
- Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
- Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.
Residents who believe they may have been a victim of a scam or have encountered an individual who does not seem to be a registered solicitor should contact Wenham Police at 978-468-5500.
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