Last Updated on June 11, 2025
Scams/Frauds
FBI Senior Fraud Update
The FBI is warning that scams targeting people over 60 are up by 84%. Last year, scammers took $3 billion from that group, more than all other age groups combined. Texts, romance scams, telephone “you won a cash prize” frauds, even elaborate swindles, with weeks or...
Scam Season — Again!
Scam Season – Again! Spring break and tax time bring a rise in scams by telephone, text, email and “snail mail.” In the latest scams, bad guys seek your money, identity, and devices, according to authorities: • Texts from friends, federal agencies, Amazon, UPSAn uninterruptible power supply or uninterruptible power source (UPS) is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source fails. It is supposed to kick in when there is a power outage. A UPS is typically used to protect hardware such as computers, data cent... READ MORE, FedEx...
AARP Fraud Alert Keeps Us Informed About Coronavirus Scams
AARP periodically issues fraud and scam alerts on its website. These scams come mostly through the web and phone and can sound very convincing.
Fraud Alert: Robocall Claim that Your Facebook Account Is Insecure
Facebook security compromises are in the news in recent weeks, and scammers are taking advantage of this in a variation of the "tech support scam" we have previously written about. And because Facebook's security issues are top of mind for many,...
Fraud Alert on Gift Cards as a Form of Payment
Gift Cards as a Form of Payment? It's a Scam.In recent years, gift cards have taken off in popularity. Unfortunately, scammers have a keen interest in gift cards, too – only for them, they are being used to pry money from you as a form of...
No, Miscrosoft is Not Calling You about a Virus
Charlestown’s Security & Emergency Services Department has received many calls about a scam alert that involves someone contacting you claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple or another well-known tech company. The caller tries to convince you to allow...
Be On the Lookout for Telemarketing Scams
The elderly are frequent targets of telemarketing frauds and sweepstakes scams. This type of fraud can include identity theft, fake check and wire transfer scams, investment and credit card fraud, and bogus online charitable solicitations. Your Charlestown...