MAYNARD — Chief Michael Noble and the Maynard Police Department wish to share tips to protect the community against online scammers after a resident was targeted earlier this week.
The resident received a call from a person pretending to be from Social Security Administration, reporting that there was issue with the woman’s Social Security number. The caller said the issue could be remedied by sending the government a large sum via Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a virtual encrypted currency. Transactions are anonymous.
The woman traveled to a neighboring town to deposit the money at a Bitcoin ATM. The ATM malfunctioned during the transaction. A clerk recognized the transaction as a scam, and police in that town were notified. It is unlikely the money deposited will be recovered.
“New scams are created all the time, but the scammers follow the same playbook: They create a crisis, prey on people’s fears, and want their money right away,” Chief Noble said. “We ask residents who receive calls like this to take a moment, think about the situation, and call us immediately with any concerns.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers the following four signs to help people recognize possible scams:
- 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…
