LITTLETON — Littleton Police Department issued a scam alert warning residents about the rise in overpayment and Bitcoin scams in the area.
In the overpayment scam, perpetrators send checks or payments that exceed the agreed-upon amount for goods or services and then request the difference be refunded.
By the time the bank discovers the original payment is fraudulent, the victim has already sent the refund, resulting in a financial loss.
Police advise never to refund money from overpayments and to verify all payments with the bank before taking any action.
Additionally, Bitcoin scams are on the rise, with fraudsters impersonating trusted organizations or individuals.
They claim that payments in Bitcoin are necessary to avoid penalties or to access certain opportunities.
The Littleton Police stress that legitimate businesses do not demand Bitcoin payments and urge the public to be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
To avoid falling prey to these scams, the police department recommends being skeptical of unsolicited offers, verifying any requests through official channels, and never sharing personal or financial information with strangers.
Residents who have been targeted or suspect a scam are encouraged to report it immediately to their banks and then to the local police.
The department is asking community members to stay vigilant and to share the alert to help others avoid becoming victims.
