Tewksbury Police Issue Alert About Scam Targeting Elderly

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Tewksbury Police issued an alert Friday warning residents that they had been notified about telephone scam artists who have targeted elderly residents in the city. In a play on a scam that has resurfaced over the past year, the caller poses as the victim's grandchild and tells them they are in trouble with police. They then tell the victim that they can bail them out with high-denomination gift cards or a wire transfer.

Other versions of the scam include people offering to "fix" a broken computer and callers posing as someone trying to help the victim's child or grandchild. Tewksbury Police are reminding residents that no jail takes gift cards for bail payments, and that people should never give out personal information over the telephone to a caller they don't know.

Police are asking people who have received such calls to contact the department at 978-851-7373 and ask to speak to a police officer to file a report. For more information, see the department's complete notice.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).