The newest warnings first, from Cape police departments, town halls and the FTC, Social Security and FBI. Each says what happens and what to do. If money is being taken right now, call 911.
16 September 2026 · Eastham · Pretends to be government
Fake town invoices using Eastham's name and seal
Someone is sending bills that look like they come from the Town of Eastham. One used the town's name, seal and address for a Planning Board matter and asked for payment.
What to do: Do not pay a surprise bill from 'the town'. Call the town department yourself, using a number from the town website or phone book, and ask if the bill is real.
From Town of Eastham (reported by CapeCod.com). Read the original
3 September 2026 · National · Online
Fake QR codes stuck on parking meters
Scammers paste their own QR code over the real one on parking meters and pay stations. Scanning it takes you to a fake payment page that steals your card number or password.
What to do: Pay with coins, the meter's card slot, or the town's official parking app you downloaded yourself. If you already paid through a strange code, call your card company and change your passwords.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
31 August 2026 · National · Pretends to be government
Callers pretending to be Social Security ask for your number
Someone says they are from Social Security and must 'check' your Social Security number, job or address, or look into a fake benefit claim. They may send you to a fake website or form.
What to do: Hang up. Real Social Security staff will not call out of the blue for your number or bank details, or ask for gift cards, gold, crypto or cash. Call Social Security yourself at 1-800-772-1213 and report the call at ssa.gov/scam.
From Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Read the original
29 August 2026 · Massachusetts · Other
Bitcoin machines are a favorite tool of scammers
About 20 Massachusetts towns have banned cryptocurrency kiosks (Bitcoin ATMs) because so many scam victims are sent to them. As of late August no Cape town was on that list, and a statewide ban was still being decided at the State House.
What to do: No real police, government office, bank or utility will ever tell you to put cash into a Bitcoin machine. If someone on the phone is telling you to go to one, hang up and call your local police.
From Boston.com news report. Read the original
27 August 2026 · National · Other
Fake charities asking for donations
After disasters and in the news, scammers set up fake charities or pretend to be real ones. The money goes to them, not to people in need.
What to do: Look the charity up yourself before giving (Give.org or Charity Watch). Never give by cash, gift card, wire transfer or crypto. Report fake charities at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
25 August 2026 · Barnstable · Pretends to be government
Fake 'Sheriff's Office' calls about jury duty warrants, paid by Bitcoin
Callers pretend to be the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office and say you have a warrant for missing jury duty. They tell you to pay with a Bitcoin machine. In one week, three Barnstable people were sent to the same Bitcoin ATM, with about $30,000 at risk.
What to do: STOP. HANG UP. DO NOT SEND MONEY. No police or sheriff will phone you about a warrant or ask for crypto. Call Barnstable Police at 508-775-0387 to report it.
From Barnstable Police Department (reported by CapeCod.com). Read the original
20 August 2026 · National · Post
Packages you never ordered ("brushing")
A package you did not order shows up with your name on it. Sellers do this to post fake reviews in your name. Some include a QR code that leads to a site that steals your information.
What to do: You may keep it and you do not have to pay or send it back. Do not scan any QR code in it. Change your online shopping passwords and report the seller to the store website.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
17 August 2026 · National · Online
Look-alike websites for paying your bills
When you search online to pay a bill, the top 'ad' results may be companies that only look official. They can add surprise fees to your payment.
What to do: Skip the ads at the top of search results. Type the company's web address from your paper bill, or call the number printed on the bill.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
12 August 2026 · Provincetown · Phone call
Fake fundraiser calls for the Provincetown Police
A local group got a call from someone asking for donations 'for the Provincetown Police Department.' The police department does not raise money by phone.
What to do: Do not give any card, bank or personal information. Hang up and call Provincetown Police yourself to check (business line 508-487-1213).
From Provincetown Police Department (reported by CapeCod.com). Read the original
7 August 2026 · National · Online
Get-rich 'trading courses' on social media
Ads on Facebook and other sites show luxury cars and trips and promise you can 'learn to trade' and make easy money. People lose a lot of money, and the teachers often have no real qualifications.
What to do: Anyone who guarantees profits is lying. Search the company name with the word 'scam' and talk it over with someone you trust before paying anything.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
4 August 2026 · Barnstable · Pretends to be government
Fake federal arrest warrants for 'missed court'
Scammers pretend to be federal agents, say you missed court, and send fake U.S. Department of Justice warrants and court papers. They then demand money through a Bitcoin ATM to 'clear' the warrant.
What to do: Hang up. Real officers never take payment by phone, Bitcoin, gift cards or wire, and never tell you to lie to your bank. Report it to your local police.
From Barnstable Police Department (reported by CapeCod.com). Read the original
3 August 2026 · National · Other
'We can get your lost money back' scams
People who already lost money to a scam get calls from someone claiming to be a government agency, lawyer or helper group who can recover it, for a fee. It is a second scam.
What to do: Never pay upfront to get money back. Look up the agency's number yourself. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Massachusetts Attorney General.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
29 July 2026 · National · Pretends to be government
Fake 'transfer' of your call to Social Security
A caller pretending to be a store, bank or police says your identity was stolen and 'transfers' you to Social Security or its Inspector General. The second person is also a scammer and asks for information, fees or for you to move money.
What to do: No company or agency can transfer your call to Social Security. Hang up, and call Social Security yourself at 1-800-772-1213. Do not trust caller ID.
From Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Read the original
27 July 2026 · Massachusetts · Contractor
How to check and complain about a home improvement contractor
The state's consumer office reminds homeowners that contractors working on an owner-occupied home of 1 to 4 units must be registered. You can look them up, see past discipline, and file a complaint if work is left unfinished or done badly.
What to do: Before hiring, look the contractor up on the MA Contractor Hub (contractorhub.mass.gov). Get a signed written contract and keep copies of payments and photos.
From MA Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Read the original
8 July 2026 · Chatham · Other
Fake 'North Chatham City Council' police donation requests
People got requests for donations from a 'North Chatham City Council' for a national police group. There is no such group in Chatham.
What to do: Chatham Police do not ask for donations, and the Chatham Police Association does not call donors. Check any charity before you give.
From Town of Chatham and Chatham Police Department (reported by Boston 25 News). Read the original
15 June 2026 · National · Other
Couriers sent to your home to pick up cash
After weeks of friendly online contact, a fake investment 'expert' says your account is frozen or at risk and sends a courier to your door to collect cash, sometimes with a password or code. Older adults are often targeted.
What to do: No real investment ever sends someone to your house for cash. Do not hand money to a stranger. Report it at ic3.gov, or if you are 60+, call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline 1-833-372-8311.
From FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Read the original
11 June 2026 · National · Pretends to be government
'You missed jury duty' arrest threats
Callers say you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you pay now. They may text or email a fake arrest warrant that looks official.
What to do: Real police never text or email a warrant, and courts never take payment by phone, app, gift card or crypto. Hang up and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
From Federal Trade Commission. Read the original
11 June 2026 · National · Pretends to be government
New Medicare cards bring scam calls
About 1.3 million people with Medicare were sent new cards starting in March 2026. Scammers use this to call and 'activate' or 'replace' your card and get your Medicare number.
What to do: Medicare will not call you about a new card, and cards are free, paper, and need no activation. If unsure, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself.
From Center for Medicare Advocacy. Read the original
3 June 2026 · Chatham · Email
Fake 'town permit fee' emails
People with building or land-use permits in Chatham got emails that looked like they came from town staff, using real addresses and permit numbers. They demanded 'fees' by wire, Venmo, Zelle or crypto.
What to do: Real Chatham emails end in @chatham-ma.gov. Call the town department at a number you look up yourself before paying anything. Report it at ic3.gov.
From Town of Chatham Community Development (reported by The Cape Cod Chronicle). Read the original
29 May 2026 · Wellfleet · Other
Wellfleet Police see more fraud and scam reports
Wellfleet Police said complaints about fraud and scams were going up, including fake bank emails, job offers that charge fees, and travel and financial-aid offers.
What to do: Never give personal information to someone you do not know. Sign up at donotcall.gov and get free credit reports only at annualcreditreport.com.
From Wellfleet Police Department (reported by Newport Dispatch). Read the original
Call to report a scam attempt, even if you did not lose money. Several of these come from a directory rather than the town's own site: if one is wrong, tell us.
We read every one, and the useful ones go into the next alert (without your name). This is not a police report.