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An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

As the holiday season and shopping begins, potential criminals will look to perpetrate scams against shoppers and donors. The scams involve online shopping, charity, cryptocurrency investment, gift cards and social media. Online shopping schemes include fraudulent websites or ads offering goods at unrealistic discounts, items purchased through third-party marketplaces using stolen credit cards or accounts and puppy scams involving fake advertisements for pets. People should be on the lookout for fake charities soliciting donations through phone calls, emails, crowdfunding platforms, and social media. Also, copycat organizations create seemingly legitimate charities to steal funds. Gift card scams involve requests for gift card purchases for alleged emergencies, work-related functions, or as payment, or tampered cards with compromised security stickers or altered barcodes. Social media scams include posts offering fake gift cards or event tickets designed to steal personal information, or fraudsters duplicating ticket barcodes for resale.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.

In advance of the holiday shopping season, the Cambridge Police Department expects reports of package thefts to increase in the coming weeks, particularly with more residents doing their shopping online.

An overview of the Cambridge Police Department's daily calls for service.