Enfield
Some are from people who have been scammed and are reporting the crime. Others are alerting the department about one. Then, there are people who call confused about whether they’re being targeted for a scam or if something they got in the mail is legitimate.
“Unfortunately I’ve seen Enfield residents taken for as much as $30,000,” said Enfield interim Police Chief Roy Holland, who spent more than a decade as a detective sergeant before becoming interim chief, and has seen an increase in scams. “It’s one of those things that’s always on my radar.”
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Holland and the Enfield Police Department will host a talk about frauds and scams at the town’s Department of Public Works at 74 Lockehaven Road. It is free and open to residents from all towns.
“I thought it could really help to educate the public on the scams we see and how to protect your identity,” Holland said.
While scams affect people of all ages, senior citizens are particularly vulnerable.
“The more information that we can get out there, the more they can recognize it,” Holland said.
Scams come in many different forms. Some are local, national or even international. They come through the mail, email, landline telephones and, more recently, cellphones.
“Anytime anyone calls in with information, we do report it to the appropriate agencies,” Holland said. That helps federal authorities track down scammers and hopefully bring them to justice.
There also are many different scams, with new ones being thought up all the time.
“If you didn’t buy a ticket for the lottery, you didn’t win it,” Holland said. If you don’t recall entering a contest to win money, don’t believe a letter that says you’re a winner.
As of late, IRS scams have been more prevalent.
“The IRS does not call you and tell you they’re going to show up and arrest you unless you give them information over the phone,” Holland said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had quite a few residents fall for that, both young and old.”
Then there’s grandparent scams.
“It’s a very common one,” Holland said. “It’s scary to grandparents to get calls (and be) told their grandson or -daughter is in trouble and needs lots of help.” Victims are asked to send money for help for crises that don’t exist.
At Wednesday’s talk, people who have been scammed will share their stories, of their experiences putting a real face to the stories of those who are affected by these misdeeds. Attendees will also receive a booklet on identity theft and how to protect themselves from scams.
“If you think it’s possibly a scam, tell the person you’ll call them back, call the department and we’ll tell you if it’s anything we’ve heard of,” Holland said.
Editor’s note: For more information about the talk, call 603-632-7501. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
