Lower Windsor Township Police Department would like to remind our residents to be vigilant and cautious when interacting with unsolicited calls, texts and emails.  This department has dealt with numerous scams this year to include romance scams, online purchases, fraudulent transactions, fraudulent credit checks, Rental scams, Publisher's Clearing House and even presenting as the Fraud Unit with your bank.  Lastly, evening acting as your insurance company to gain your personal information.   Scammers often use pressure tactics and false information to deceive individuals, so it's essential to be aware of these common signs:

• Be suspicious of unknown individuals making statements that don't sound factual.

• Be wary of pressure to act immediately.

If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a claim, take the following steps:

• Verify the information independently by contacting the appropriate law enforcement agency, bank, or company using publicly known contact information.
• Do not use contact information provided by the unknown individual.

Remember, never provide money and/or personal information to someone you did not initiate contact with or have an independent and direct affiliation with.

If you believe you've been a victim of fraud or would like to report a scam, you can:

• File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
• Contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
• Submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

• Report Fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

By being informed and taking these precautions, you can help protect yourself and your community from scams. Stay safe!

Helpful links:

How to Avoid Rental Scams - https://agcu.org/rental-property-scams/

Romance Scammers - https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/02/romance-scammers-love-take-your-money

Federal Trade Commission – Report a Fraud - https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Learn about the latest scams and get advice to help you avoid, report and recover from them - https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams