Public safety report: Scam calls target Waltham residents

Police dealt with a variety of scam reports earlier this month.

On Dec. 6 at 2:40 p.m., police responded to Alder Street to reports of a phone scam. The reporting party said he had looked online for a Microsoft customer service number to call to receive remote help with his computer. When he gave the people on the other end of the phone remote access to his computer, the computer screen turned black. After this, the reporting party noticed that $600 of Target gift cards had been charged to his bank account. Police are investigating the incident.

Also on Dec. 6 police responded to Edwin Road to reports of a gift card scam. The reporting party had tried to call Amazon Prime tech support. The man on the phone informed her that she had fraudulent charges on her American Express card and that he could help her if she gave him $5,000. The reporting party purchased two $1,000 Home Depot gift cards and read the numbers to the man over the phone. After this, she realized it was a scam. Police are also investigating this incident.

On Dec. 7 at 11:56 a.m., police responded to Shirley Road to perform a welfare check on a woman. The woman’s sister, who lives in Denver, Colorado, received a call from what looked like the woman’s number. When the Colorado-based sister answered the phone call, the person on the phone said they were holding the woman hostage and would only release her if the sister sent $1,000. The sister sent the money and had her coworkers call the Waltham police to perform a welfare check on the woman – who was safe and not being held hostage. Police advised the sister to report the scam to the Denver Police Department.

A summary of Waltham police and fire activity from Dec. 3 to Dec. 7 is as follows:

On Dec. 3 at 8:23 a.m., police responded to the intersection of Stow Street and Weston Street to reports of a road rage incident. The reporting party said a car that had been behind him pulled up to his left-hand side and threw a lighter at his vehicle, which caused one of his windows to shatter. Police used license plate information to identify the alleged aggressor and are seeking a charge against him for malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

On Dec. 3 at 8:31 p.m., police responded to the intersection of Marianne Road and Waverly Oaks Road to reports of a raccoon. On arrival, officers found an injured raccoon in the road, noting that the raccoon appeared to have been struck by a motor vehicle. An officer euthanized the raccoon with his pistol.

On Dec. 6 at 9:05 a.m., firefighters, Water Department staff and police counselors responded to a Beal Road residence, where water was leaking into the first-floor kitchen from the second floor. Firefighters searched for shut-off valves but reported being unable to immediately do so due to hoarding conditions. Eventually, public safety workers were able to shut off the water.

On Dec. 6 at 9:58 a.m., police responded to Williams Street. The reporting party’s car had four slashed tires and was spray-painted black. Police are investigating the incident.

On Dec. 6 at 10:01 a.m., police responded to the Universal Playground at 200 Trapelo Road where they discovered a turkey that appeared to be stuck in the fenced spray park area. Officers attempted to help the turkey but ultimately did not have a key to the fence.

On Dec. 6 at 2:09 p.m., police responded to Fin’s Sushi & Grill at 922 Main St. The owner reported that a male had come into the restaurant saying he lost his credit card a few days ago. When the owner pulled out a stack of credit cards that had been left at the restaurant to try to look for it, the male grabbed them all and ran away. Police are investigating the incident.