The Watson Corridor Fraud Prevention Partnership is a joint initiative from the Crestwood and Webster Groves police departments.
It is a targeted effort to guard against scams, where criminals are tricking victims into buying gift cards to pay for fake debts, prizes or emergencies.
Many of the fraud attempts involve several thousand dollars, with the scammers pretending to be from law enforcement or another government agency.
Victims are pressured into purchasing gift cards at pharmacies or convenience stores, then provide the card number or PIN over the phone.
Police are being proactive, working with businesses to identify and hopefully prevent scams from occurring.
Employees will be on the lookout for customers who are trying to purchase multiple gift cards in high dollar amounts while on the phone.
Remember that no real business or government agency will ever demand payment via a gift card. If you suspect fraud, contact the police.
Officer Matt Hill (Crestwood) and Detective Julian Rivera (Webster Groves) highlight the importance of the new partnership in this video.
This content is sourced from
Webster Groves
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