Johnson City Police see rise in phone/online scams

The Johnson City Police Department is urging the public to be on high alert for phone scams. The department is reporting an uptick in the number of reports involving fake calls that pressure victims into purchasing gift cards, sending cryptocurrency, or sharing sensitive financial information. The caller often pretends to be someone of authority and may claim there’s a warrant for your arrest, a problem with your bank account, or another urgent issue that must be resolved immediately. The resolution is payment in gift cards. This scam can happen with a phone call text and over social media. The department says they will never contact you by phone for payment and advise that if someone you do not know contacts you via social media and asks for money due to an urgent situation or emergency, it is a scam.