TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple Police Department is warning residents about an increase in scams targeting the Central Texas community.
Temple PD said it has seen an increase in online and phone scams, with scammers using tactics like the Microsoft scam, IRS Tax scam, Social Security/Medicare scam and Law Enforcement scam to trick people into giving them money or personal information.
Police said scammers ask for payments through prepaid cards like Green Dot or Apple Pay or Bitcoin deposits, and after the victim makes a payment, the scammer steals their money using the personal information they provided.
Temple PD gave the following tips to protect yourself from scams:
- Never give out financial or personal information over the phone or internet unless you can verify the person’s identity.
- Don’t trust unsolicited calls. Always verify by contacting your bank or service provider directly using official contact details.
- Stay informed. Check for recent scam alerts by visiting IRS.gov, FBI.gov, identitytheft.gov, or secretservice.gov.
Temple PD encourages residents to stay safe and protect their information.
If you suspect a scam, contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500.
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