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Police & Fire
Phone Scam: Victims Receive Calls From Suspects Posing As CT State Police Phone Scam: Victims Receive Calls From Suspects Posing As CT State Police
Phone Scam: Victims Receive Calls From Suspects Posing As CT State Police Authorities in Connecticut are warning residents to watch out for suspicious calls after two victims were contacted by scammers posing as law enforcement.  The warning came after two incidents on Thursday morning, March 7, when Connecticut State Police received two unrelated phone calls from victims with the same last name who reported suspicious phone calls.  According to authorities, the two victims, who both have out-of-state phone numbers but live in Connecticut, were contacted by callers who made it appear as if they were reaching out from a State Police number.  In the…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Though it’s not officially fishing season, police are cautioning area residents to be wary of scammers going “fishing” in United States Postal Service mailboxes. Law enforcement agencies in the tri-state area issued alerts warning of scammers who have been making the rounds “fishing” in USPS mailboxes in an attempt to steal checks and personal information. Police said that “mail fishing” is a crime that involves thieves using a weighted object that is attached to a string or wire and covered in a sticky substance to retrieve mail from out of postal boxes. According to police, “‘mail fisher…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FBI Issues Alert For Fake Hiring Scams Targeting Individuals, Businesses COVID-19: FBI Issues Alert For Fake Hiring Scams Targeting Individuals, Businesses
Covid-19: FBI Issues Alert For Fake Hiring Scams Targeting Individuals, Businesses With millions of Americans looking for work or working from home due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the FBI has seen an uptick in fake job and hiring scams from opportunistic cybercriminals. Fraudsters have been leveraging their purported positions as faux “employers” to persuade victims into believing they had a new job in an effort to steal their personal information or to get them to send money. According to the FBI, “fake job scams have existed for a long time but technology has made this scam easier and more lucrative. Cybercriminals now pose as legitimate employers by spo…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams As more than 80 million Americans have either already received or are awaiting economic stimulus automatic deposits in their bank accounts or checks through the mail,  the Treasury Department is warning of scams associated with the payments. "If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the United States Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, do not respond, "the department said. The Federal T…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say
Phone Scammers On Rise Again, CT State Police Say Connecticut State Police are warning residents to beware of phone scams that appear to be on the rise. Dispatchers and troopers from around the state have been contacted by concerned citizens about unusual phone calls they have received, the department said.  The phone calls are from people claiming to be from the Connecticut State Police, among other agencies or organizations. In some cases, scammers ask callers to deposit a check they provide and then wire the money from that account.  In other calls, scammers insist that consumers make a decision and provi…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam Police departments throughout the nation are warning the public about a new text message phishing scam that looks to be from FedEx or another delivery company about a package. The text message shows you a "tracking code" and asks you to click it to set delivery preferences for "your package." (See image above.) Police are warning anyone who gets such a text not to click on the link. The link would take you to a fraudulent site that tries to steal your personal information and money. If you are in doubt about a tracking number, go to the main website of the shipping company and search for …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police
Scam Alert: 'Spoofing' Schemers Pose As Police Local police departments have been warning residents of the increased prevalence of phone scams - but a new type of scam has resulted in numerous complaints and concerns. Scammers have started using an Internet application called “spoofing” to enable them to display their caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from a local police department. As a result, those receiving the call feel as though it is legitimate and let their guard down, potentially providing personal information and increasing the chances of becoming a victim. Local law enforcement agencies and representat…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area
Increase In Fraudulent Phone Calls Reported In Area Police in Fairfield County are warning residents of an increase in fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from the Social Security Administration.  The caller threatens legal action if the person answering the phone doesn't comply with their demands.  SSA employees will never threaten you for information; they will not state that you face potential arrest or other legal action if you fail to provide information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. Officials with the agency said they have recent reports have indicated that the calle…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Cell Phone Fraud On The Rise: What You Can Do To Protect Yourself Cell Phone Fraud On The Rise: What You Can Do To Protect Yourself
Cell Phone Fraud On The Rise: What You Can Do To Protect Yourself People all around the country are at a higher risk than ever of becoming the next victim of cell phone fraud, especially the elderly. The FCC defines cell phone fraud as, “the unauthorized use, tampering or manipulation of a cellular phone or service.” It comes in two primary forms, subscriber fraud and phone cloning fraud. Subscriber fraud occurs when a scammer signs up for a service with information obtained in a fraudulent way. Cell phone cloning fraud occurs when a scammer essentially reprograms a cell phone to transmit the signal associated with another legitimate device. While other…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Craigslist Scam Warning Issued By Police Craigslist Scam Warning Issued By Police
Craigslist Scam Warning Issued By Police Police are cautioning area residents of a scam making the rounds involving Craigslist. According to police, people who have items listed for sale on Craigslist have recently been receiving text messages from an unidentified person expressing interest in purchasing the listed item.  The party will not negotiate the purchase price, but will offer to pay the full advertised price for the item, plus an additional $50 to have it held for them.  Police said that the scammers will indicate that they will send a cashier’s check for the full amount, plus $1,500 for shipping.  The vi…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Alert Issued For Eversource Bill Payment Scam Alert Issued For Eversource Bill Payment Scam
Alert Issued For Eversource Bill Payment Scam Eversource is cautioning its customers to be aware of a scam that is making the round in the region where opportunistic fraudsters attempt to discern personal information. The utility company has issued an alert warning that it has received several reports of people who are receiving calls from scammers claiming to be employees with Eversource who offer a discount on their bill for paying on time for the last six months. On Twitter, one customer said that she’s received “hundreds of calls and multiple visits.” According to Eversource:  Eversource representatives never ask for instant pay…

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by Zak Failla