Restoration NewsMedia

Police warn residents about holiday scams



Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

CREEDMOOR — The Creedmoor Police Department has seen a recent increase in credit card scams and are warning residents against falling victim to the schemes. 

“Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a convenient form of payment in their scams,” Creedmoor police say in a news release.



In a 2022 AARP survey, one in three adults said they or someone they know had been asked at some point to buy a gift card to pay a bill, fee or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. About one in four adults who were contacted reported they bought the cards, or about 13 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older, police say.

Things to watch for: 

You’re directed to buy one or more gift cards — often referred to as “electronic vouchers” — as a quick means of making payment.

You’re told to share the numbers on the back of the gift cards, by reading them off or sending a picture.

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.

·— A online account provider (Amazon, Apple, Etc.)