East Hampton Police Warn of Telephone Scam

Numerous reports have been received from East End residents about phone calls they've received requesting money be wired to relatives.

East Hampton Village police said this is a scam.

"The callers pretend to be acting on the behalf of a family member who is supposedly in trouble, asking for the money to be wired while never disclosing where the family member actually is," police said in a public alert.

Southampton Town police have also alerted residents to the possible scam.

Police have posted the warning in English and Spanish at local Western Unions.

"At times, the callers ask for credit card information. This is also a scam," they said.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Ed Ecker said on Wednesday that his department is investigating similar cases.

Among the calls being investigated was a suspicious phone call a woman received on June 12. The caller, who phoned the woman's cellphone six times, said they had her brother, who was unconscious after being hit over the head with a gun, and they would kill him if she didn't go to Western Union and wire $300.

Another person told police on June 13 that he was told his son was in trouble with drugs and would be killed if he didn't help him. The man told the caller his son was fine and hung up the phone. He called police to have the incident documented.

Police are asking for the public's help. If you receive such a call, contact the village police department at 631-324-0777.