Wrangell residents are advised to be on the alert for scams by phone or by email.

“There isn’t a week goes by where somebody hasn’t sent money off,” said Chief Doug McCloskey of the Wrangell Police Department.

One example of a scam which has been prevalent of late has promised lottery winnings, whereby a person receives a call or email message informing them they have unexpectedly won a sweepstakes or drawing from a foreign contest, usually Canada or Australia. McCloskey explained the sender asks for a smaller amount than what was supposedly won to cover taxes and shipping costs.

Th...