Police Warn Residents About Phone Scams

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford Police are warning residents about a phone scam in which the call appears to come from the police.

According to a message from Captain Barry Clemente, the Medford Police department has received “numerous” reports of a call that appears to be from the police in which people are told they owe money and the caller tries to get personal information from the victim.

Medford Police say the calls are “false,” and the police don’t collect money on behalf of anyone, nor do they seek personal information over the phone. Capt. Clemente said the scammers are likely using a computer program that changes the phone number that is visible on caller ID, so the call appears to be from somewhere else.

The police are reminding people to never give out personal information over the phone. They are telling people to hang up on the scammers and to not give them any money or credit card information for a service or fee.