After Resident Experiences Kidnap Scam, Easton Police Warn of Phoney Calls

From Chief of Police Allen R. Krajcik

Around the country and around Massachusetts there has been an increase in virtual kidnap scams. This involves a scammer calling someone reporting that they have kidnapped their relative and demand a ransom. Several arrests have been made in Massachusetts but the scam continues. This has recently happened to an Easton resident. If you receive such a call please notify the police department. Years ago most scams involved telling someone they have won the Irish sweepstakes or Canadian lottery, now the scams are more threatening and usually involve placing the victim in fear. Sometimes the scammer poses as a representative of the National Grid and threatens to cut your power, or says they are from the I.R.S. and will arrest you if you don’t make an immediate payment. Another popular scam involves calling a senior citizen and telling him that his or her grandchild was in a serious accident out of state and needs cash immediately for bail. Please report such occurrences to the Easton Police.