SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott police are warning residents of a new scam involving callers identifying themselves as specific officers and asking for gift cards to pay off fines, fees or warrants.
Police received reports from several residents who received calls and voicemail messages from a 781 area code number purporting to be the Swampscott police investigations office.
When police called the number, they reached a recording of a male voice saying, “You have reached the Swampscott Police Department Investigations” and asking to leave a message.
The real non-emergency number for the Swampscott Police Department is 781-595-1111.
However, the department is also warning residents that even real numbers can be mimicked by scammers using various apps or software to trick caller ID into showing whatever number they want.
Detective Ted Delano said callers who actually spoke to someone at the number were told to get gift cards to pay the non-existent fines or warrants.
In a typical gift card scam, the caller, who could be anywhere in the world, will ask the victim to purchase and activate gift or debit cards, then give the caller the card numbers and PIN number on the card — that’s all a scammer needs to either drain the card’s value through purchasing goods that can be resold, withdrawing cash from a…
