Police: Be Wary of Potential Phone Scammers

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

This week, two residents of Devonshire Road thought a promised $5 milion prize from an unknown caller smelled fishy, so they called the police.

According to a police report, the residents received similar suspicious phone calls on Saturday, Jan. 21 in which an unknown male called informed them they had won a $5 million prize. To claim the prize, the caller instructed the residents to purchase a $200 gift card from the CVS/Pharmacy at 387 Pompton Ave., and then give the card to someone who would come to their home and present them with a check for the prize money.

Police established surveillance in the neighborhood following the complaints, but did not see anything out of the ordinary. The residents were advised to contact the police if they received any further phone calls.

In the wake of these incidents, police are alerting residents to be wary of any unsolicited notifications informing them they have won a prize.

"Many offers of this nature are fraudulent in nature and are designed to defraud the participants. Do not provide personal information or send money, legitimate organizations will never ask for money for insurance or taxes. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of such a call, please contact the police department for assistance," the report said.