The Boston Police Department is warning the public to be aware and cautious of charity and phishing scams as the holiday season approaches.

Police say phishing scams are expected to surge during this time, with the scammers sending victims messages disguised as coming from trusted companies, like Apple and Amazon. The scam typically offers victims fake giveaways or “free gift cards” in exchange for personal information. They also will attempt to solicit personal information by telling victims their account has been compromised.

Phishing emails are designed to install malware on electronic devices and steal sensitive data. Boston Police advise the public to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting unfamiliar websites, and to treat any unexpected mail with caution. Common warning signs of phishing emails include awkward formatting, errors in spelling or grammar, and slightly altered sender addresses.

Boston Police are also warning of holiday charity scams.

Scammers take advantage of generous donors by either impersonating well-known charities or using familiar sounding names of known charities. To avoid becoming a victim, police say people should verify any charity before making a donation. There are plenty of reliable ways to do this, through resources like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and GuideStar.

The Smart Donor Checklist is also available for donors to inquire about specific charities to ensure their contributions are legitimately donated.

Incident summary

The BPD reports that its officers responded to 252 incidents in its 24-hour report ending at 10 a.m. Saturday. Those include two robberies, five aggravated assaults, one residential burglary, four instances of theft from a vehicle, one stolen car and 21 instances of miscellaneous larceny.

Arrests

All of the below-named defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

– Kenneth Newman, 12 Seaver St., Roxbury. Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

– Lamar Dowman, 976 Norwest Drive, Norwood. Operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

– Rodney Frederick, 10 Norton St., Dorchester. Firearm violation with three prior violent or drug crimes.

– Leiha Donovan, 319 Norfolk Ave., Dorchester. Possession of Class C drugs.

– Amber Voudren, 112 Southampton St., Roxbury. Misdemeanor breaking & entering.

– Jose Torres Santini, 10A Smith St., Mission Hill. Larceny over $250.

– Kenneth Wynn, 96 Milton St., Boston. Cocaine trafficking.

– Javier Palacios Portillo, 234 Saratoga St., East Boston. Operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

– Nicole Phillips, 68 Main St., Leominster. Shoplifting by aspiration.

– Kamal Williams, 642 Canterbury St., Roslindale. Robbery.

– Braulio DeJesus, 112 Southampton St., Roxbury. Larceny under $1,200.

– Michael Howard, 29 Francine Rd., Boston. Assault & battery on a police officer.