BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- Police are encouraging shoppers to think twice before purchasing gift cards in an effort to deter them from becoming victims of a telephone scam.
Police have partnered with local retailers to display a sign near the gift cards that reads: "Are you here to buy a gift card to make a payment because you received a phone call or e-mail alleging you owe money? Ask yourself, have you ever paid a bill with a pre-paid gift card or money order? Report suspicious phone calls and e-mails to the police before sending any money!"
“We're hoping they’re going to stop and think about the telephone call that they got," said Officer Denise Schrecengost with the Boynton Beach Police Crime Prevention Unit.
Schrecengost says it's often the elderly who get tricked by these scams.
“I feel bad for them because they don’t really know, so us doing this is hopefully going to help them.”
The signs are in about 14 stores across Boynton Beach, including several CVS, Publix and Walgreens locations.
A common telephone scam involves a person calling the victim and telling them their utilities will be shut off if they don't pay a bill using a gift card
