Troutman Police Warn Residents of Ongoing Fraud and Scam Attempts

The Troutman Police Department is urging residents to remain vigilant as fraud and scam attempts continue to target the community through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.

Police say scammers often rely on common tactics designed to create fear or urgency in order to pressure victims into acting quickly. Residents are encouraged to watch for several red flags, including requests for payment using gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Messages that demand immediate action or threaten consequences, such as account closures or legal trouble, are also frequently associated with scams.

Authorities warn that scammers may impersonate law enforcement officers, banks, utility companies, or government agencies in an effort to appear legitimate. Requests for personal or financial information should always be treated with caution.

To protect themselves, residents are advised never to share personal information unless they initiated the contact. Police recommend avoiding suspicious links or unexpected attachments and hanging up on questionable calls before independently verifying the caller using a trusted phone number. Families are also encouraged to speak with older relatives and teenagers, who are often targeted by scammers.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized is urged to save any messages, phone numbers, and payment details related to the incident.

The Troutman Police Department says staying informed is one of the strongest defenses against fraud and encourages residents to share scam awareness information with others in the community.