Beware of phone scam

Columbia Police are asking residents to be aware of a phone scam targeting possibly older residents.

Police said they received a report late last week from an elderly woman, who received a telephone call stating she won $2.5 million.

Police said the caller had an old address for the woman and had called her twice. She was instructed to send $350 through UPS and when the caller persisted, the victim asked a few questions and was hung up on.

Police said they looked into the two phone numbers but they did not lead anywhere.

Anyone who may have received similar phone calls is asked to call police at 684-7735.

Police issue scam warning

Columbia Police are warning residents about a scam going through the community.
Police said residents are receiving phone calls telling them they have won money, but there is a catch.
The callers, police said, ask the victims to send money to a place or seek information on bank accounts. The victims are also told an UPS delivery person will deliver a package to their home and the victims are ask to send money via Western Union to a certain place, "if they want to ever win anything so it could be entered into a contest."
Police said people just don't call residents to ask you to send money to get the winnings.
If anyone has been a victim of this, please call police at 684-7735.