The Manager's report back on senior scam prevention efforts

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 has created new opportunities for scammers looking to target unsuspecting individuals. The Cambridge Police Department understands the importance of educating those that live, work and visit the City of Cambridge of concerning schemes, particularly involving our senior residents.

Despite the pandemic, the Cambridge Police Department has continued to partner with the Cambridge Council on Aging, Cambridge Consumers’ Council, Office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, bank representatives and providers of various agencies serving senior residents to proactively notify these residents of scams and inform them of what they can do to prevent becoming victimized by these crimes.

Several alert notifications were issued directly to subscribers of the Cambridge Alert Network and also to senior residents through the Cambridge Council on Aging (COA). These email and text-based notifications, and monthly COA newsletters, advised residents to be aware of an increase in online scams with many residents spending more time at home and online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

One such scam involved seniors being targeted online in which scammers offered to drive would-be victims to a Massachusetts vaccination site for a hefty payment. Additionally, seniors were informed of phone scams that involved the spoofing of the police non-emergency business line. These scam callers were most frequently targeting senior residents in Cambridge and requesting bank information, social security numbers and date of births due to “investigations into open criminal cases” involving residents.

20 employees with the City of Cambridge – including Police Cadets and staff in the CPD Community Relations Unit -- contacted more than 7,000 senior residents throughout the community via phone to determine if they have any questions, concerns or needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This outreach gave employees an opportunity to educate seniors on the latest information related to COVID-19, including the scams that were impacting residents.

Furthermore, the Council on Aging’s (COA) main phone line (617-349- 6220) remained a consistent resource for seniors and caregivers during the height of the pandemic, and was monitored by staff members who fielded calls and provided information about available resources and support.

The COA also sent a phone broadcast message with important updates, advisories, and scam notifications twice a week to the 1,300 contacts who signed up to receive phone messages from ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO 125 SIXTH STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02142

the Council on Aging. Additionally, the Consumers’ Council staff was available during the COVID-19 pandemic by phone and email to respond to resident requests for resources and support involving scams.

In addition to alert notifications, the Cambridge Police Department has conducted outreach on its social media accounts, posted information on its website, and worked closely with the news media to extend awareness of scams targeting seniors. For example, a senior outreach officer was prominently featured in a four-part Channel 5 “Chronicle” series around cyber security. The series focused on robocalls, protection against fraud, and empowering residents against cyber threats. This supplemented information posted on the DHSP, CHA, COA, Housing Liaison, and Consumer’s Council websites and social media accounts.

City partners and agencies, including CPD, DHSP, CHA and COA, Consumers’ Council are working on producing additional printed materials about fraud and other crimes commonly perpetrated against seniors, and plan to produce these materials (brochures, flyers, post cards) in several languages, with the goal of reaching a wider audience, and distributing through door-to-door campaigns.

CPD and its partnering agencies recognize the importance and impact in-person meetings have with our seniors, particularly in strengthening relationships, building trust, and increasing community engagement.

We are currently working with CHA on safe ways to resume our in-person meetings and collaborative presentations in their community spaces (i.e., limiting capacity, scheduling multiple sessions, and requiring RSVPs for attendance). We hope to have a meeting scheduled as early as the week of December 19th, and will make this information available to you as soon as possible.

Additionally, we will work with the Housing Liaison to partner with the various partners and property management companies throughout the City to host information sessions and presentations. The City is also exploring options to host virtual workshops and webinars to include several partnering agencies and providers to talk about available protections and consumer supports and services.

The Cambridge Police has advised residents to use precaution and suggests following these tips to help avoid falling victim to scammers:

• Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security, Medicare, or other personal information over the phone unless it is with a trusted and verified number or website. • Never send money to someone you do not know personally. • Do not provide a scammer with a pre-paid money card number. • If you receive a phone call or text/email message from a financial institution, contact your bank at their customer service number and speak to a customer service representative. • If you have any doubts about a phone call you received, contact the company or organization who "allegedly" called.

If residents are suspicious or have been victimized by a scam, they are encouraged to hang up and/or report it to the Cambridge Police Department immediately by calling [phone removed].

I hope that this background provides sufficient insight into scammers, what outreach has been conducted to notify the City of Cambridge, and direction on how people should take precaution moving forward.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Christine Elow

Acting Police Commissioner