Scammers Target Beverly Residents With Crash Hoax, Demand for Gift Cards

Beverly police are warning residents about a scam where they receive a phone call reporting that a relative has been in an accident and requests payment - via gift cards.

Police said the scam appears to be targeting elderly residents. The scammers tell residents that a family member has been involved in an accident and they should send the scammers $2,500 worth of gift cards.

“Residents are asked to contact (Beverly police) should they feel they have been targeted,” Beverly police said.

Beverly is not alone. Police in Swampscott recently issued a warning to its residents about a similar scam, albeit a little more complicated. Callers to residents in that town are being told a relative has been in a car crash and then was taken hostage. They also order a payment of several thousand dollars to free their relative before they are executed. Police in Swampscott uncovered it when they were called to Stop and Shop after someone had showed up there to wire money to one of the scammers.