Fall River Mayor warns scammers are posing as him asking for money on social media

A Fall River politician is issuing a warning, so city residents are not scammed.

Mayor Paul Coogan took to social media Thursday to let the public know that some people have been getting messages that look like they’re from him asking for money. He noted that these messages are a scam and to ignore them and not to send any money.

In recent years scammers have increased posing as celebrities or well-known figures on social media. According to the FTC, they’re asking people to send money for all kinds of supposed reasons – like claiming a prize, donating to a charity, or giving help of some kind.

Imposter scams come in many varieties, but they all work the same way: a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money. And that’s exactly what these imposters are trying to do.

So, what should you do if a well-known figure contacts you on social media and asks for money?

-Slow down. Before you send money, talk with someone you trust.

-Do some research: search online for the celebrity’s name plus “scam.” Do the same with any charity or cause they’re asking you to support—and learn more about charity scams here.

-Never send money, gift cards or prepaid debit cards to someone you don’t know or haven’t met – even celebrities you meet on social media.

-If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money (your bank, wire transfer service, gift card company, or prepaid debit card company). Tell them the transaction was a fraud. Ask the company to reverse the transaction, if it’s possible.

-Report your experience to the social media site and authorities.

To learn more about imposter scams, visit FTC.gov/imposters.