phone scam

Concord Police Alert Residents About Recent Electrical Utility Telephone Scams

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Concord Police Department
Chief Joseph O’Connor
219 Walden Street
P.O. Box 519
Concord, MA 01742

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Concord Police Alert Residents About Recent Electrical Utility Telephone Scams

CONCORD — Chief Joseph O’Connor and the Concord Municipal Light Plant are issuing a warning about a recent increase in scam phone calls received by residents regarding callers posing as utility company employees.

In most instances the scammers said the customer owes money and their power will be shut off within two hours if they do not pay immediately.

The scammer is able to identify customers’ names, addresses and phone numbers.

Some residents who have received the calls report that it is a woman speaking with an accent.

One of the phone numbers used was 1-800-685-0133. A customer who reported receiving a call recently said that the scammer claimed to be from a company called “UniCal.”

Anyone who believes they have received a suspicious phone call or have been victimized by a recent scam call is asked to call Concord Police at 978-318-3400. Residents are also asked to contact CMLP’s customer service line at 978-318-3101 or email [email protected] to report any scam calls they received.

“If you receive a suspicious phone call, do not give out any personal information and hang up the phone,” Chief O’Connor said. “Utility companies will never call and threaten to shut off your service if you don’t pay your bill.”

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Fairhaven Police Warn Residents of Phone Scam

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Fairhaven Police Department
Kevin W. Kobza, Sergeant/PIO
1 Bryant St.
Fairhaven, MA 02719

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Fairhaven Police Warn Residents of Phone Scam

FAIRHAVEN — Sgt. Kevin W. Kobza is warning Fairhaven residents about a recent telephone scam.

Sgt. Kobza personally received a call today from a man who identified himself as working for the “American Officer’s Association,” claiming he was collecting money for a fundraiser.

Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from the organization should not speak with them and should not donate money to them.

The phone number that Sgt. Kobza received the call from was 781-613-1095, out of Dedham.

Sgt. Kobza attempted to call the number back and got an answering machine with a woman’s voice on it. The incident is under investigation.

If anyone has questions about law enforcement organizations conducting legitimate fundraisers, please confirm the fundraising efforts with your local police departments.

Any Fairhaven residents who believe they are a victim of this scam should call the Fairhaven Police Department at 508-997-7421.

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Fairhaven Police Issue Warning About Telephone Scam Targeting Restaurants

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Fairhaven Police Department
Kevin W. Kobza, Sergeant/PIO
1 Bryant St.
Fairhaven, MA 02719

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Fairhaven Police Issue Warning About Telephone Scam Targeting Restaurants

FAIRHAVEN — Sgt. Kevin W. Kobza is warning business owners about a recent telephone scam targeting Fairhaven restaurants.

An unknown person has called restaurants claiming they owe thousands of dollars to Eversource, and that the electricity to the business will be shut off within the next five minutes if the issue is not immediately resolved. The scammer typically calls during a restaurant’s busy period.

The caller demands that a restaurant owner go purchase prepaid debit cards and load them with thousands of dollars and then read the card and PIN numbers back to them over the phone.

“This individual is calling during a restaurant’s busiest times in order to try and catch the person who answers the phone off-guard,” Sgt. Kobza said. “The person answering the phone may not know about the restaurant’s electric bill situation, only that if the power is shut off they will have to shut down.”

The most recent incident happened on Thursday, Nov. 9, when the owner of the Phoenix Restaurant, 140 Huttleston Ave., received a fraudulent request for money. The owner recognized the call after being a victim of the same scam last year and called the police. The owner did not lose any money.

Three other Fairhaven restaurants received similar calls last year and were victims of the scam.

“A utility company would never call a business with such an immediate and threatening ultimatum,” Sgt. Kobza said. “If you get a call you believe could be a scam, check your utility bill and call the number printed on the bill to verify any collection calls. The only way scammers can get anything from you, is if you give it to them.  So don’t.”

Sgt. Kobza also asks that business owners who sell prepaid debit cards be on the lookout for customers who may be being scammed.

“If you see someone who is putting thousands of dollars onto a prepaid debit card or buying them in bulk, ask them what it is for and let them know that someone could be taking advantage of them,” Sgt. Kobza said.

Anyone who believes they could be a victim of similar phone scam should call the Fairhaven Police at 508-997-7421.

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Reading Police Expand Warning about Telephone Scam Spoofing Town and Elected Officials’ Phone Numbers

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Reading Police Department
Mark D. Segalla, Chief of Police
15 Union St.
Reading, MA 01867

For Immediate Release

Monday, May 8, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Reading Police Expand Warning about Telephone Scam Spoofing Town and Elected Officials’ Phone Numbers

READING — Chief Mark Segalla and the Reading Police Department are expanding a warning to residents about a telephone scam in which criminals appear capable of spoofing a variety of town and elected officials’ phone numbers.

In the same vein as other widespread telephone scams, the caller tells the resident that they can save money on a specific bill — electricity, gas, etc. — by switching to another service.

Nearly all official Town of Reading phone numbers begin with either “(781) 942” or “(781) 944.”

Chief Segalla warns that residents should NEVER give personal information like social security numbers or credit card numbers to people who call their homes or cell phones unsolicited.

The Reading Police first became aware of official phone numbers being used in scams when a resident told police that she received a call on Thursday, April 27, with the caller stating that they can save the homeowner money on their electric bill. The resident did the right thing by immediately hanging up and notifying police.

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking great care in protecting your personal information and keeping it out of the hands of criminals,” Chief Segalla said. “All of these scams are illegal, but we find it especially troubling that scammers are attempting to prey on residents by using town and elected officials’ phone numbers.”

Common telephones scams that target residents — specifically seniors — include:

• IRS Impostors: Callers contact you demanding immediate payment for back taxes.

• Arrested Relative: Scammers contact you claiming that a friend or relative has been arrested and needs bail money.

• Kidnapped Relative:  Scammers call to report a friend or relative has been kidnapped and a ransom must be paid.

• Threatened Arrest: Scammers call to tell you that you are subject to arrest (by a variety of different agencies: U.S. Marshals, FBI, etc.) and must pay to avoid arrest.

• Utility Scam: Scammers pose as bill collectors from utility companies and threaten to shut off service if you do not pay.

• Sweepstakes: Someone calls to notify you that you have won a contest or sweepstakes and must send money to collect any winnings.

• Tech Support/Malware: Someone contacts you claiming your computer needs repairs and to send money for service or asks to connect to your computer. Additionally, a pop-up can appear on your computer, stating that it is infected with malware, and to call a number to pay to remove the virus.

In many of these calls, the scammer demands payment via electronic money order or pre-paid debit card. This should be an immediate red flag. No legitimate vendor will ever demand money via these means. Sending money via money order, or pre-paid debit card is as good as sending cash, and if money is sent to a criminal, it is gone forever and cannot be recovered.

If anyone has any questions or feels that they have been victimized, they are encouraged to call Reading Police at 781-944-1212

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