Clarkstown PD Warns Of Gift Card Scams

NEW CITY, NY — Scams can happen to anyone, and the Clarkstown Police Department wants area residents to be aware of this ever-increasing crime spree, in which victims have lost tens of thousands of dollars. The Clarkstown Community Policing Unit went to stores Wednesday morning in the town that sell gift cards and Green Dot Money Pak cards.

Stores like CVS, Walgreens, 7-Eleven and Rite-Aid are stores that have been used by victims to purchase the gift cards needed to pay off scams.

The scams vary but the common thread is that someone claiming to be from a reputable source says you owe them money and they will threaten to shut off utilities, or say that a loved one needs money, or even claim to be from the IRS.

Officers went to those stores to request that store employees be vigilant when someone attempts to buy thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.

The officers also posted reminders to potential victims that if they are buying these cards because of a potential scam to please call 911.

This is just another effort undertaken by the Clarkstown Police Department to educate the public and ask store employees to be the eyes and ears of the police to prevent some of these scams.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.