ATHOL — Residents have been targeted by a sophisticated phone scam where the caller ID appears to belong to the Athol Police Department, authorities warned Tuesday.
The scam involves an individual calling residents, posing as a police officer, complete with a fake badge number, and urging them to withdraw funds from their bank accounts.
The Athol Police Department emphasized that they would never call to request money from the public.
Officials urge residents to be vigilant and to not provide any personal information or money to the caller.
If contacted by the scammer, the best course of action is to simply hang up.
The police also reassured the community that in actual emergencies, officers would make contact in person, rather than over the phone.
The ability of scammers to manipulate caller ID systems to mimic the police department’s number is concerning, and residents are advised to always pause and consider the legitimacy of such requests.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call is encouraged to report it to the Athol Police Department for investigation.
