Wellesley Police Warn About Drug Cartel Phone Scam

WELLESLEY, MA — Wellesley police are warning residents to be wary of strange text messages. A new scam is targeting residents and posing as members of a drug cartel.

The scammers warn recipients that they must call a number included in the text to pay fines - associated with a fictional “adult service." The scammers claim to have the addresses for the caller and their family and if they don’t call the number and pay the fines the family will be harmed.

Several graphic photos of injured people follow the threatening messages, police said.

The personal information included in these texts is easily accessed via public websites and/or social media sites.

Several local agencies have received similar reports recently and this scam is prevalent across the country. If you are contacted ignore the message and notify the Wellesley Police at 781.235.1212.