Dunstable Police Department Warns Community to Use Caution Following Uptick in Scams

DUNSTABLE — Chief Erik Hoar and the Dunstable Police Department would like to warn residents to use caution after a recent uptick in scam activity. 

The Dunstable Police Department has been made aware that a company called “Citizens Behind the Badge” is currently attempting to solicit money in the form of a fundraiser. 

Residents and community members who have received mailings from the organization “Citizens Behind the Badge” should not send checks, money orders, or cash, and the mailings should be discarded immediately.  

Currently, the Dunstable Police Department is not conducting any fundraising events.

The Dunstable Police Department would like to share the following tips about scams from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

• Only donate to organizations you know and trust. 
• Check social media posts and official websites to make sure they are currently holding a fundraiser.  
• Do not give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you did not expect. 
• Know how scammers tell you to pay. Never pay someone who insists that you can only pay with cryptocurrency, a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram, a payment app, or a gift card. Never deposit a check and send money back to someone. 
• Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything else, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — what happened. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam. 
• If you were scammed or think you saw a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov 

For more information about common scams, visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cyber Crime website here. 

Residents who believe they may have fallen victim to a scam are encouraged to contact Dunstable Police at 978-649-7445. 

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