Vermont State Police are warning the public about a telephone scam targeting elderly Bennington residents.
The scammers use information from online databases to call their elderly victims, posing as family members who have been involved in a car crash or other distress. They ask the victim to wire them money after the accident.
The release instructs those receiving the calls to ask the caller for a phone number to call back and the name of the city and state from which they are calling. They should then call the police department covering that area for help.
The release advises Vermonters to exercise caution before wiring money and to confirm that they know who is on the other end of the phone. Those who assist elderly residents are advised to warn them about the scam.
