Home About Archives RSS Feed

North Adams Police Warn of Phone Scammers

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Police Department is warning area residents of a phone scam that's making the rounds.

The scam involves being contacted by phone by someone from a foreign country. The caller claims that a family member is being held in a foreign jail and needs help being bailed out. The caller then requests that cash be sent to an address in that country. The caller also tries to intimidate the person by telling them not to report what is going on because it could jeopardize the safety of the family member.

Detectives who have spoken to the victims say the scammer have used the called the family member by name adding to the validity of the call. The public should be aware that any information that they put out on social media sites is subject to being viewed by these scammers.

While the current scam is being perpetrated by foriegn sources, iBerkshires is also aware of attempts at a similar scam in which victims are informed that a family member has been arrested within the country, such as New York City. The scammer identifies himself as an attorney or friend seeking bail money.

If you are contacted by someone using this scam or any other, seek advice before sending any money or providing any account information. The following steps should be used:

1.  Write down any information they give you.

2.  Do not send money or give account information over the phone, by mail or over the Internet.

3.  Contact other family members to see if, in fact the named family member is really out of town.  

4.  Contact your local police department and make them aware of the scam.

Use common sense and be aware that these type of scams are out there.

     

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration
Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat
Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council
WCMA: 'Cracking the Code on Numerology'
BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator
Clark Art Screens 'Adaptation'
Drury High School to Host End-of-Year Showcase
Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests
MCLA Men's Lacrosse Falls in League Opener

Police Logs

Pittsfield Police

North Adams

Crimewatch Links

North Adams CrimeWatch

Stamford/Clarksburg CrimeWatch

Pittsfield CrimeWatch

Emergency: 911
Adams 413-743-1212
Clarksburg 413-663-7795
Cheshire 413-743-1501
Dalton 413-684-0300
Great Barrington 413-528-0306
Lanesborough 413-443-4107
Lee 413-243-2100
Lenox 413-637-2346
North Adams 413-664-4944
Pittsfield 413-448-9700
Richmond 413-698-3315
Stockbridge 413-298-4179
Williamstown 413-458-5733
West Stockbridge 413-232-7938
State Police  
Cheshire Barracks
413-743-
4700
Lee Barracks 413-243-0600
Shaftsbury, Vt., Barracks 802-442-3263

 



Categories:
Adams (92)
Alford (0)
Becket (8)
Cheshire (23)
Clarksburg (41)
Dalton (6)
Egremont (2)
Florida (9)
Great Barrington (34)
Hancock (5)
Hinsdale (5)
Lanesborough (30)
Lee (14)
Lenox (11)
Monterey (0)
Mount Washington (1)
New Ashford (4)
New Marlborough (2)
North Adams (248)
Otis (2)
Peru (3)
Pittsfield (318)
Pownal (16)
Readsboro (17)
Richmond (10)
Sandisfield (5)
Savoy (6)
Sheffield (5)
Stamford (31)
State (1)
Stockbridge (6)
Tyringham (1)
Washington (1)
West Stockbridge (1)
Williamstown (79)
Windsor (3)
Archives:
Tags:
Police Investigation Rape Robbery Assault Crime Watch Accident Assaults Injuries Pedestrians Shooting Stabbing Structure Fire Motorcycles Search Hit & Run Burglary Fire Break-ins Fatal Drugs Missing Persons Fraud Murder Motor Vehicle Drug Charges Buglaries Motor Vehicle Accident Heroin Homicide Larceny Mvi Armed Robbery Vehicle Veremko Search & Rescue
Popular Entries:
Superior Court Briefs: March 14 - March 16
Fatal Accident Closes Route 8 in Adams
Superior Court Briefs: May 2 - May 6
Woman Pleads Guilty in Sandisfield Fatal Crash
Superior Court Briefs: March 28 - March 31
Pittsfield Woman Pleads Guilty in Husband's Slaying
Superior Court Briefs: May 18 - 19
Superior Court Briefs: March 8 - March 11
Superior Court Briefs: March 23 - March 24
New Ashford Crash Turns Fatal for Williamstown Man
Recent Entries:
State Police Bust $3M Illegal Pot Growing Operation in Savoy
First-Responders Searching for Lost Hiker on Mount Greylock
Pittsfield Driver Injured in Elm Street Accident
North Adams Police Investigate Possible Shooting Incident
Williamstown Police Looking into Cemetery Vandalism
Florida Woman Dies in Motorcycle Accident
Pittsfield Fire Responds to Kitchen Blaze
Juvenile Arrested in North Adams Shooting
North Adams Police Seeking Information on Shooting Incident
Pittsfield Police Seek Information on Sunday Night Shootings