Mystery Shopper

A legitimate company identified as Consumer Impressions, Inc. out of Texas has been targeted by scam artists using its name to defraud unsuspecting people of their money. The scam involves a resident receiving a package from Consumer Impressions Inc. that is unsolicited. The package contains instructions on how to participate as a “Mystery Shopper” on behalf of the company. Included in the package is a cashier’s check, usually from Citibank, for a large amount of money (example: $3,874.00) made out to the participant. The instructions ask for the participant to shop at a local superstore (ex: Walmart) and then send a smaller portion of the funds back to the company via Western Union. It takes approximately three days for the bank to notify the participant that the check was fraudulent.

Free Item Scam

According to other sources at the Billerica Council on Aging, an area senior was recently solicited by a person posing as a representative of MEDCO Pharmaceutical offering a “free item”. The representative began asking personal information that could have later been used for fraudulent purposes.

Ransom Threats and Law Enforcement Imposters

Over the past few months residents have been receiving calls from persons claiming to be holding their family members. Some of these calls have been from people claiming to be holding the family member as ransom, demanding the target send money immediately to a specific address or the held
party would be harmed. These calls have been targeting people all over the greater Boston area and it is believed to be an organized fraud being perpetrated nationwide. In most cases we are able to quickly confirm the personal allegedly being held ransom is not in jeopardy and is not themselves even aware of the fraud. Due to the serious nature of such claims we urge anyone receiving this type of call to immediately contact their local law enforcement representative of the FBI.
In other cases, area residents have been receiving calls from persons claiming to be either Law Enforcement representatives or attorneys that are calling on behalf of a family member being held in custody. The caller urges the target to send “attorney fees” or “bail money” via Western Union to secure the release of their family member. Most of these calls have originated from sources out of the Country and involve family members allegedly being detained outside of the Country. Again, we would urge anyone receiving this type of call to contact their local law enforcement authority or the FBI.

Comcast

Kirby Vaccum

Horizon Foods

Newpro

Scotts Miracle Grow

Southwestern Books & Software

Verizon