Swampscott Police Imposter Phone Scam Warning

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott police are warning residents about a phone scam involving someone posting as a town police officer and demanding gift cards to pay off fines, fees and warrants.

Police said they received reports on both Monday and Tuesday from residents who said they are receiving calls and messages from officers at the department — identified by name — requesting the payments.

Police said voicemail messages were left with a callback number of "781-747-2155." However, this is not the number of the Swampscott Police Department.

"We called that number and got a recording of a male voice saying: 'You have reached the Swampscott Police Department' and to leave a message," Swampscott police said. "This is not a real number."

The actual number of the Swampscott Police Department is 781-595-1111.

North Shore police departments remind residents that they will never request fines, fees or other payments be made in the form of a gift card.

(Also on Patch: North Shore Scams On The Rise: Warning Signs From Beverly Police)

"We're coming up on the Christmas season when more of these scams seem to come up," Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur said at a presentation to the Beverly City Council earlier this fall. "Nobody is ever going to call you from the Beverly Police Department and tell you there is a warrant out for your arrest. The IRS doesn't do that. Banks do not call you and ask you to give them your financial information — they already have that.

"And no one is ever, ever, ever going to ask you to pay anything (legitimate) with a gift card. So if someone tells you to go to the grocery store and buy $400 worth of gift cards to pay your utility bill, don't do it."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)