WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro Police Department took a report from a resident on Aug. 27 who had been the victim of a scam. The resident received a message appearing to be from Amazon regarding a fraudulent purchase.
She later called a phone number provided in the message and spoke with a man who identified himself as “John Oliver.” Another male then claimed to be a police officer and instructed her to withdraw money and purchase gift cards, which were ultimately used by the scammers.
Police noted legitimate businesses and law enforcement will never ask you to withdraw money, purchase gift cards or provide gift card numbers over the phone. Scammers often use fake names and “spoofed” phone numbers to make their calls appear legitimate.
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and verify the information directly with the business or agency using their official contact information. Please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors – especially those who may be more vulnerable to these scams. Awareness is one of the best tools we have to fight fraud, police said.
