Caruthersville Police Department warns residents of phone scams targeting elderly
CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – The Caruthersville Police Department is warning residents of a scam.
The Police Department is telling people to warn elderly family and friends of a scam they’ve been made aware of.
The most recent is a gift card scam about Ameren UE.
Here’s tips they urge people to look out for
1. You’re directed to buy one or more gift cards — often referred to as “electronic vouchers” — as a quick means of making payment.
2. You’re told to share the numbers on the back of the gift cards, by reading them off or sending a picture.
3. The request comes from someone you wouldn’t expect to ask for money this way:
A Social Security warning of a problem with your account
A utility company warning of an imminent shutoff
A lottery company promising a big prize — once you pay some fees upfront
A grandchild needing bail or facing another financial emergency.
They urge residents to please NOT give personal, bank account, credit card, or address information out to people over the phone unless you truly know who you’re talking to.
