Police: Polite scammers offer to send a car round to pick up Hyde Park residents they want to fleece

District E-18 reports two Hyde Park residents have gotten calls from people claiming they've won a sweepstakes, but need to wire some money to cover fees and taxes. And then the scammers offer to send a car by to drive the "winner" to the nearest Western Union office:

The callers have shown that they have a familiarity with the neighborhood by quoting the color of individual houses on the intended victim's street.

Hyde Park residents who get a call like that are advised to say no, then call E-18 detectives at 617-343-5607.

Police add there's a similar scam going on right now on the South Shore, involving calls to elderly people from their "grandsons" or "nephews" who say they've just been arrested and need money wired to their lawyers immediately.