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Police agencies earn of increased scams

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, and local police agencies, report having seen an increase in scams targeted at local residents.

The latest round of scams involve asking residents to send out large amounts of gift cards. The caller often advises that they are with law enforcement or a jail, and that a relative has been involved in a crime.

“In one recent call, the caller advised the victim that a car they had been rented under their name was involved in a crime, and the victim needed to send gift cards to assist in the investigation,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “Oftentimes, the caller will also have a local caller ID, so it appears to be a local call. No law enforcement agency or jail will ever take Gift Cards as part of an investigation, bail, or to release property.

“Another scam making the rounds is through email. The victim receives an email from a contact or person they believe they know. The email will advise the victim that ‘I need some assistance’ and ‘this needs to be confidential.’ The email will then go on and ask for gift cards to be mailed or emailed back to them. The scammers have hacked the original email account, in turn receiving the Gift Cards.

If anyone receives a phone call or email requesting gift cards, the Sheriff Office advises not purchase any gift cards or give out any personal information to the caller or emailer.

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