The Monterey Police Department is urging local residents to throw away a deceptive mailer landing in area mailboxes, warning that it is part of an ongoing scam designed to steal personal and financial information.

According to police, the scam involves postcards or letters offering recipients cash rewards. When victims call the telephone number listed on the notice, scammers attempt to sweeten the deal by offering to increase the payout to $200 for no apparent reason.

Once the victim is on the line, the caller attempts to “verify” personal identification details before ultimately demanding bank account information.

Law enforcement officials issued a strict warning to the community: Do not share personal details or bank information with anyone over the phone.

The Monterey Police Department confirmed that an investigation into the origin of the mailers is currently underway as officers work to protect residents from financial loss. Anyone who receives the suspicious notice is advised to dispose of it in the trash immediately.