GROVELAND — Chief Jeffery T. Gillen and the Groveland Police Department would like to warn residents about potential scams involving unpaid utility bills and a money-transfer app used to steal money.
“There are a number of strategies criminals use to try and take advantage of residents, including posing as a bill collector from utility companies like National Grid” Chief Gillen said. “We want residents to be aware of potential scams and understand the steps to avoid them and protect their identity and their money.”
One common scam involves residents receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to be a bill collector from National Grid, threatening to cut off the victim’s power supply if they do not pay their balance. Scammers then demand that victims pay the purported balance immediately through an app and lose their money in the process.
In this case, scammers have been able to identify customers by name, address, phone number and even the amount they owe to the company.
If a caller claiming to be from National Grid does not know your account number or asks questions about your balance, hang up immediately and contact National Grid at 1-800-322-3223 or the Groveland Police Department at 978-521-1212.
If you are ever unsure about a potential scam, contact the Groveland Police Department at 978-521-1212.
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