Shelton Police Share Holiday Scam Safety Tips

Information via the Shelton Police Department

SHELTON, CT — The Shelton Police Department had provided some tips to help residents stay safe from scams this holiday season.

In a news release posted to Facebook, Police Det. Richard Bango said as the holiday season approaches, scammers are too.

"Unfortunately, seniors are often a target for many different types of financial scams and the holiday season gives scammers many opportunities," Bango said on Facebook.

Bango also provided the following quick tips to help residents stay safe from holiday scams:

-Keep personal financial information secure. Never disclose personal or financial information to anyone over the phone, via text message or over the internet.

-Before offering your help to someone who claims to be a family member or friend in trouble or needing money, be sure to contact an additional family to verify that the emergency or urgent request is truthful.

-Beware of a caller who insists on secrecy. Never allow anyone to discourage you from seeking information, verification, support and counsel from family members, friends or trusted advisers prior to making any financial transaction

-When shopping online, be sure to only shop from websites that are secure. If the website looks unprofessional or suspicious in anyway, it’s best to avoid them and shop online at a familiar retailer. If not, you can be subject to identity theft and fraud by shopping on unsecured websites.

-Be extra cautious when making charitable donations to benefit the people and/or organizations you want to help. If a caller claims to be from an established organization such as a hospital, charity, or law enforcement agency, look up the number of the organization independently to verify the request before sending money. Ask for detailed information about the charity, including name, address, and telephone number. The organization’s management staff should be able to help you

-If you have received a letter from the IRS stating that you owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 for information.

-The IRS will neither call to demand immediate payment, nor call without first mailing a bill. The IRS does not require you to use a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card nor will they threaten you with arrest for not paying.

-A police department or government agency will never ask you to purchase gift cards or something of monetary value to avoid arrest or investigation.