The Financial Crime Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division is issuing a warning about a scam targeting utility customers.
Since Wednesday, investigators have received three complaints from local businesses who were contacted by an individual posing as a representative of a utility company. The caller states that the business’s account is in arrears and the only way to make payment is through a pre-paid credit card. The caller provides a telephone number and instructs the business owner/employee to call back with the pre-paid credit card information. Once the scammer has the pre-paid credit card information, the money can be instantly downloaded and is not recoverable. One business owner was defrauded of upwards of $700.
Police encourage people to be wary if a service provider insists on obtaining payment through a pre-paid credit card. When in doubt, obtain the name of the person you are speaking with and, using the contact information provided on an account statement or another reliable resource, call the company to inquire about the situation.
Investigators are asking anyone who has been the victim of such a scam to report it by calling 902-490-1985.
Source: Release
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