WESTERLY — In response to a recent surge in fraudulent schemes targeting local residents, the Westerly Police Department is issuing a scam alert to the community.
Over the past week, a concerning increase in scams has been reported, with perpetrators convincing victims to withdraw large sums of money under false pretenses.
Scams currently circulating involve fraudsters claiming that a family member of the victim has been arrested and requires bail money, or asserting that the victim has been implicated in a crime and must pay to resolve the issue.
Victims are then directed to deposit funds via Bitcoin Depot or have the money collected by a courier service.
The Westerly Police Department is advising the public to take proactive measures to protect themselves from these deceptive practices.
Key recommendations include educating family members, particularly the elderly, about these scams; avoiding answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers; and disregarding any threats made by callers.
The department emphasizes that engagement with scammers should be avoided.
Authorities urge anyone who has received a scam call to contact the Westerly Police Department immediately at 401-596-2022 and to refrain from sending money without first verifying the legitimacy of the request with law enforcement officials.
The police are actively working to combat these scams and are seeking the public’s cooperation in reporting any suspicious activities.
