A new phone scam has been reported by multiple village residents recently, and Cazenovia Police Chief Michael Hayes urges residents to be aware of the attempted fraud. The scam involves a call from someone who claims to be an attorney or police official who claims that the receiver’s relative has been arrested in Europe and needs money for bail.

“If you receive a call like this, hang up. Contact the relative yourself to confirm it’s a scam and don’t give these people any information,” Hayes said.

If the caller claims to be from a U.S. agency, ask for their phone number and call them back to verify their identity, Hayes said. The Cazenovia Police Department also can verify if a U.S. citizen has been arrested overseas, so citizens should call the department at 655-3276 if they are concerned about a family member.

“If you receive a call like this, hang up. Contact the relative yourself to confirm it’s a scam and don’t give these people any information,” Hayes said.

If the caller claims to be from a U.S. agency, ask for their phone number and call them back to verify their identity, Hayes said. The Cazenovia Police Department also can verify if a U.S. citizen has been arrested overseas, so citizens should call the department at 655-3276 if they are concerned about a family member.