It’s a scary situation!  Someone you know is in a jam! They’re in jail, lost their passport, their car has broken down; the list of possible emergencies is long and creative.

Here are some of the clues that this is a scam:

  1. You don’t know the person contacting you. They’ll pretend to be a law enforcement official, a friend of your friend or relative, a “Good Samaritan, or even your friend or relative themselves.”
  2. They need Gift Cards to get out of trouble. What police fine must be paid in Walmart or Amazon cards?
  3. They need it NOW and will press you to comply.

What to do:

  1. Call the person in danger directly. If they can’t be reached, call the person closest to them to verify the situation.
  2. Call the establishment directly and substantiate the circumstances.
  3. Don’t be aftraid to call local law enforcement and ask for their help.

Safer Every Day

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