Melrose Woman Victimized In Scam 'Amazon' Call

MELROSE, MA — Police are warning residents of a scam that involves fraudulent Amazon purchases after a woman was victimized this week.

Police said the victim received a call Monday from someone who claimed to work for Amazon asking if she had ordered a $700 computer to be sent to Texas. The victim said she did not, and the caller said she would transfer her to the Amazon Fraud Department.

The victim was then told to download the CashApp so she could receive her refund. The victim downloaded the app and made an account, sharing her account name and password with the person on the phone.

The victim then saw that her CashApp was sending money from her bank account to people she did not know.

The victim also was told to send a picture of her driver's license through another app, which she later deleted after speaking to police.

Police said Amazon does not call and ask for personal information.

"These scam calls often come from career criminals who can sound very convincing, so it is important to never give out any personal or financial information to callers you do not know," Chief Michael Lyle said. "Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam should freeze your accounts immediately and contact law enforcement."

Police shared the following tips from the the Federal Trade Commission:

• Do not take calls from unknown numbers.
• Do not share personal, identifying information like Social Security numbers, account numbers, or mother’s maiden names.
• If a caller claims to represent an organization and you are doubtful, hang up and contact that agency to verify whether the call was truly from a representative.
• Caller ID is not always accurate. A call from a “local” number might not be coming from a local person or organization.
• Never pay a caller using a gift card or prepaid credit card.
• Be wary of callers who talk quickly and pressure you to make a decision quickly.
• Do not send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer. If you pay for a product or service with cash or a money transfer, you run a risk of losing the right to dispute fraudulent charges.
• Report rude or abusive callers, even if you already sent them money, by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or by visiting ftc.gov/complaint.

Call the Melrose Police at 781-665-1212 with questions.