Scammers have set their sights on Plymouth, employing fear tactics and fake security alerts to fleece local residents out of cash and confidential info. The Plymouth Police Department is on high alert and urging the community to wise up to these digital-age shakedowns that are hitting close to home, according to a recent bulletin.

In a new twist on an old hustle, swindlers are baiting Apple users with bogus security warnings. These phony pop-ups, masquerading as Apple Support, scare victims with tales of hacked devices and stolen bank details, then send them scrambling to call a "secure line." Once dialed in, the victim is sweet-talked into downloading an app that grants the scammer unfettered access to their device – and their financial lives, as per the bulletin from the Plymouth Police Department.

But the deceit doesn't stop there. The scam artist, ever the wolf in sheep's clothing, will pose as a bank representative and coax the victim to mail gobs of cash to a secure address, supposedly to safeguard their funds. Despite the convincing nature of the con, police are clear – Apple isn't in the business of sending security alerts via a pop-up, and these messages are nothing but smoke and mirrors, the bulletin clarified.

Plymouth Police are doling out some straight talk on avoiding these scammers. They're telling locals to be wary of any pop-up communication, never to disclose personal or financial info without confirming the sources, and to ignore requests from anyone who hasn't been personally verified. Suspicious calls? Hang them up and give the institution a ring to make sure you're dealing with the real deal, or just report the scam to the authorities. Savvy web practices, like avoiding unsolicited links and keeping your antivirus software up to date, could save you a headache – and a hit to the wallet. For those looking to bone up on scam prevention, the FBI’s official website is the place to go, the bulletin recommended.