North Reading Police Warn About Scams

North Reading Police are alerting residents to notify the Federal Trade Commission if you received what appeared to be a scam phone call.

You can report these scams at this link.

Police said the most prevalent scam is the “IRS scam. If you have received a call from someone identifying themselves as from the IRS, you can report that to this link.”

The IRS will never ask for your Social Security Number or request immediate payment via wire transfers or prepaid debit/credit cards.

“ The IRS will also not threaten a law suit or arrest if you do not comply with these demands,” said police.

Police added:

“Another common scam has been called the ’Grandson Scam.’ This is where a loved one calls or emails and says that they are in trouble and need money as soon as possible. DO NOT SEND MONEY. Wire transfers are just like money, once they are gone there is no getting it back. Remember to slow the conversation down and ask specific questions and then attempt to verify this with a third party (i.e. another relative) before you take any further action.

“Yet another common scam is that you have won something, however there are fees associated with the prize. Remember: if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is not true. Think about why someone would tell you that you have won something. Did you enter any contests or giveaways? Again, if it seems too good to be true…”