you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted. 

• Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money. 

The Norfolk Police Department urges residents who believe they are a victim of any scams to report them to the police by calling 508-528-3206.An increase in reports of Norfolk residents being victims of scams and theft has been reported by the Norfolk Police Department. Chief Timothy Heinz shared the following safety information for residents:

Package Theft

On Sept. 23, at approximately 4 p.m., a resident witnessed a man allegedly steal a package from her porch and get onto a moped. Officers responded and searched the area, ultimately finding the individual with the package, which contained an iPhone, and placing him under arrest.

The Norfolk Police Department strongly encourages residents to have high-value items, like iPhones, delivered to a store for pickup rather than delivery to their homes or require that such packages be signed for upon delivery to avoid package theft. 

Property Theft

Additionally, police remind community members to never allow easy access to valuable property following a theft.

On Sept. 28, a trailer was stolen from a construction site on Boardman Street that has not yet been recovered. The trailer is custom painted white with “Commonwealth Construction” written on the side.

Payment Scam 

Police also urge residents to exercise caution if they receive messages demanding cryptocurrency or PayPal payments. Detectives are currently investigating a scam that occurred on Sept. 30, in which a Norfolk resident was defrauded out of nearly $10,000 after depositing the funds into a Bitcoin ATM. Scammers told the victim that he would be charged for a purchase if he didn’t contact the customer service number provided. He was ordered to withdraw money from his bank account and deposit the funds into a Bitcoin ATM.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers the following information about cryptocurrency and blackmail scams:  

• Only scammers demand payment in cryptocurrency. Businesses or government entities will never demand you send cryptocurrency.  

• Scammers often impersonate well-known companies, or familiar phone numbers to build trust and deceive individuals. They might use a real name, such as the Social Security Administration, the IRS, Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations. 

• Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue