LITTLE VALLEY -- Cattaraugus County residents today were warned about a telephone scam against the elderly by Sheriff Timothy S. Whitcomb. In the scam residents, who tend to be recalled four to five times with the same pitch periodically, are told by someone claiming to be from “Medical Alert System” that as elderly persons they have won a free alert system.
The pitch requires that they provide the caller with personal information, including personal identification, debit and credit card information, social security numbers, address information and more. “Unlike most scams where you usually receive one call and its stops, unique to this scam is its repeat nature,” the sheriff said. Whitcomb stressed that residents should never give out any personal information over the telephone and individuals receiving such calls should contact their local law enforcement agency or the sheriff’s office at 716-938-9191.
The pitch requires that they provide the caller with personal information, including personal identification, debit and credit card information, social security numbers, address information and more. “Unlike most scams where you usually receive one call and its stops, unique to this scam is its repeat nature,” the sheriff said. Whitcomb stressed that residents should never give out any personal information over the telephone and individuals receiving such calls should contact their local law enforcement agency or the sheriff’s office at 716-938-9191.