Simsbury PD Warns Of New Phone Scam

SIMSBURY, CT — Simsbury police this week are warning folks to be wary whenever they get a telephone call or an email from someone asking for money.

Recently, the Simsbury Police Department has noticed an uptick of scams where people are called up and asked to go to a store and purchase gift cards.

"Once the gift cards are purchased, the scammer requests information off the gift card as a form of payment for the fraudulent reason," wrote the SPD.

Fake reasons for the scammers to call people are usually, police said, for a "multitude of reasons," such as claims of late utility payments, computer hacking and IRS tax delinquency payments.

Any call like this, according to police, is a scam and it's illegal.

To avoid becoming a victim, Simsbury police offered a list of tips folks should do regarding the situation:

• If you get a call from somebody asking for a payment that you don't know, "immediatelly end the call."

• Never provide personal information over the phone or internet.

• Never purchase gift cards as a "form of payment" for any reason.

• Never send cash through the mail.

Anyone who believes they've been or are being scammed, call the Simsbury Police Department at 860-658-3100.