NEWPORT- Local residents and law enforcement have seen an uptick in a series of scam calls and emails in recent months.
Whether over the phone or through social media, Fraud Watch has noticed a number of consistencies with each of the scams. Often these calls will come from either someone posing as an agent of a reputable government agency, or even as someone who may be close to you. These scams are often targeting vulnerable members of our communities and particularly senior citizens.
“I’m 70-years-old and I’ve got all my marbles but this one sucked me in,” said a Newport resident who was the victim of a recent scam.
Recently, this Newport resident who has asked to remain anonymous, was contacted via social media by who she believed was a close personal friend. The friend stated that she received a considerable amount of money from the Social Security Administration, and recommended that the Newport resident do the same, claiming that the money was intended to aid widows, and people who qualified for social security.
The Newport resident followed the link that her friend gave her and was contacted by someone posing as Kilolo Kijakazi, the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The scammer told the Newport resident that, as long as they offered photos of their drivers license and social security card, they would be…
