Peabody Police See 'Spike' In Scams

PEABODY, MA — Peabody police are warning residents — especially city seniors — to be wary of scams amid a "spike" in scam activity of late.

Police said seniors are often the targets of scams because they tend to be "trusting and polite," and have financial savings, own a home and have good credit.

"Please remember to resist the pressure to act quickly," police said. "Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings and door-to-door offers. Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know, and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you.

"Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one."

Police said common scams are those where scammers purport to be technology support representatives looking to connect to a home computer, law enforcement or bail bondsman looking for money because a grandchild is hurt or in trouble, someone impersonating a government IRS official, someone claiming to need a deposit for a lottery or prize winning, home-repair scams, false advertisement scams, romance scams or a caregiver scams where a relative or caregiver takes advantage of an elderly victim.

Anyone who believes they may have become victim to a scam can call Peabody police at 978-538-6300.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)