Crime & Safety
Police Warn of Medical Alert Scam
The callers claim that everything is paid for, including shipping and handling, and that a friend, relative or doctor recommended they take the product.
Phone scammers are targeting locals with phony offers of free medical alert systems in exchange for personal information, according to Manassas Park Police.
Police said that locals have reported calls from a company identifying itself as "Medical Alert Systems" or "Senior Medical Labs." The callers claim that everything is paid for, including shipping and handling, and that a friend, relative or doctor recommended they take the product.
In some cases, a pre-recorded voice asked the resident to press one to accept, and in other cases to press five. Other customers have received calls from "customer service representatives" who make the same offer.
"No matter what option or explanation is offered, customers are being advised to simply hang up the telephone," police wrote in a press release.
"Be wary of anyone offering you something for 'free' in exchange for your personal information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," according to police.
Police recommend reporting business scams to the Better Business Bureau at 804-648-0016.
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