This past week Billerica residents lost a combined $12,867.50 to scams. These were well known scams that this department has warned about in the past and we want to share these recent incidents in the hope that we can generate more awareness and discussion about these crimes.

On January 5th Billerica Police received a complaint of a sweepstakes type scam. The 69 year old resident reported that he was contacted by telephone by “Dream Sweepstakes Company”. The caller explained that the victim was the winner of $690,000. The victim was then instructed to send money to a lawyer in Houston, Texas. The victim then sent separate money orders with a total value of $6000. After sending the initial $6000 the victim was instructed to send an additional $3000 to secure the proper “legal documents”. That amount was sent by the victim via credit card. At a later date the victim was in contact with the scammers again to request his sweepstakes money and finally demanded his money back. The scammer advised the victim that there would be a $1900 fee to return his money which was not sent. Total loss to the victim was $9000.

On January 7th Billerica Police were contacted by a 75 year old resident that had fallen victim to the grandparent scam. On the morning of the 7th the victim received a phone call from a male that identified himself as “Public Defender Richard Gomes”. Gomes stated that the victim’s grandson had been in Pennsylvania for a funeral. While in the area attending the funeral he had been involved in a motor vehicle accident and was subsequently arrested for operating under the influence. Gomes stated that the victim would need to wire $1790 to the county jail to bail out his grandson. The victim then went to CVS located at 210 Boston Rd in Billerica and wired the funds requested. After sending the funds, Gomes requested another $1790 which the victim did not send. A short time later the victim made contact with his grandson and realized he had been scammed. Total loss to victim was $1790.

On January 7th a 37 year old resident entered the police department to report he had been the victim of a survey scam. The victim reports that he received a package in the mail containing a check for $2,485.50 along with a survey and instructions. The victim was instructed to complete the survey then deposit the check into his bank account. After depositing the check the scammer instructed the victim to purchase three money orders from three different locations, for $692.50 each. These money orders were sent to three different recipients. The victim believed that the initial deposit from the “survey company” had cleared. The victim was then sent another check for $3450.00 and an additional survey. It was at that time that the victim discovered that the initial check had bounced and his account was overdrawn. Total loss to victim was $2077.50.