Crime Prevention

9PM Routine 

The 9PM Routine is a daily reminder for residents to park in a well-lit area (if possible), remove valuables from their cars, and to lock their doors at night. For frequent reminders, please follow us on Facebook (@LowellMAPD) or Twitter (@LowellPD).
9PM routine
Identity Theft and Scam Prevention 

Types of Scams 

Unemployment Scams: Scammers will file an unemployment claim in your name. If you believe your personal information was used to file a false unemployment claim, please file a victim report on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) website or call the customer service line (877-626-6800). Residents can also check their credit reports to see if their personally identifiable information has been compromised. 

IRS Scams: Scammers will contact individuals and claim to be from the IRS. Victims can be told that their SSN will be canceled if they don’t pay their tax bill or that they owe money and must pay via a gift card or wire transfer. To learn more about IRS scams, please visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts.  

National Grid Scams: Scammers will contact National Grid customers and state that their bill is overdue. The scammer then asks the customer to pay their overdue balance via cash apps such as PayPal, Venmo, etc. If you receive this call, please hang up. The only way to pay your bill over the phone is the phone number provided on your National Grid bill.

Phone Scams: Scammers will call claiming to need money immediately. If you receive this type of call, please hang up. 

Helpful Tips to Avoid Identity Theft and Scams:

  • Do not give away personally identifiable information to an unknown caller or on unofficial websites. 
  • Delete unsolicited text messages. 
  • Be aware of phishing emails. Do not click on random links or respond to suspicious emails claiming to provide financial assistance. Remember: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. 
  • To report a crime or other concerns, please contact the LPD non-emergency line (978-937-3200).