Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Laura Maier cautions residents to be on alert of potential telephone scams, particularly those soliciting any personal information or monetary contribution.

“Time and time again we hear about scammers trying to obtain sensitive information from unsuspecting residents, especially our senior citizens,” said Councilwoman Maier. “Many times, scammers pose as officials from the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration or other well-known agency, designed to intimidate the call recipient.”

The Councilwoman noted that many times, their return phone numbers can also be falsified to appear as a familiar number. In addition to seniors, others frequently targeted include students and first-generation Americans. Current common scams include offers of debt relief, car warranty extensions, and credit repairs. Scammers have also been known to pose as family members allegedly in trouble and seeking money.

“The last thing families need, especially during these uncertain times, is someone trying to scam them out of their hard-earned money,” said Councilwoman Maier. “We alert all residents to be wary of any unsolicited phone calls, especially those requesting money or personal information, even if they claim to be from a government or bank entity.”

The Federal Trade Commission offers the following tips to residents who fall victim to scam phone calls:

• Hang up the phone. Don’t press numbers to speak to alive operator or take your number off the list, this just confirms your phone number.

• Consider asking your phone company whether they charge for blocking phone numbers.

• Don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers use the internet to make calls all over the world.

• Report your experience to the FTC online or by calling 1-877-382-4357. Visit www.ftc.gov/calls for more information.