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8 Tips to Prevent Being Scammed

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20th Century Homes

Readers, you may have noticed from recent Hopkinton police incident logs that there has been an alarming rise in the number of calls concerning fraud and scams. It seems Hopkinton residents are an attractive target for these criminals.

Telephone and email scams are becoming increasingly common and can be difficult to spot. In order to protect yourself from becoming a victim of these scams, it is important to be aware of the different types of scams and know how to avoid them.

>> Related: Hopkinton Police Incident Log for December 12, 2022

  1. Be aware of suspicious calls. Be wary of calls from unfamiliar numbers or from numbers that have been spoofed to appear as if they are from a legitimate organization. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a government agency or a bank, hang up and call the organization directly to verify the call.
  2. Do not give out personal information. Never give out your credit card or bank account numbers, Social Security number, or other personal information to anyone over the phone. Legitimate companies and organizations will never ask for this information over the phone.
  3. Do not respond to unsolicited emails. Email scams often contain links that can lead to malicious websites or software. Never click on any links or open any attachments in an unsolicited email.
  4. Do not pay upfront fees. Legitimate companies and organizations will never ask you to pay an upfront fee in order to receive a service or product.
  5. Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of offers that promise large sums of money for little or no effort.
  6. Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can spoof their caller ID to make it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate organization.
  7. Do not respond to pressure tactics. Scammers may try to pressure you into providing personal information or making a payment by threatening legal action or other consequences. Do not be intimidated by these tactics and hang up immediately.
  8. Report scams to Hopkinton Police Department. If you believe you have been a victim of a telephone or email scam, report it to the authorities immediately.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of a telephone or email scam. Remember to remain vigilant and never give out personal information or make payments over the phone or via email.

Foemmel Fine Homes
UniBank CD Special
Sunnyside Gardens

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