It starts with a knock on the door and someone dressed like a Pepco worker.
The person requests to come inside the home. Then, things take a turn.
“They convince them that they got an alert, they would need to check out your equipment for emergency reasons, and then turn off the electricity and say it’s an urgent matter,” Prince George’s County Police Sgt. John Quarless said.
But the power was fine before the suspect cuts the cords. Then, the fraudster says they need money or a check to restore the power.
The suspect then deposits the check or cash without fixing the power.
Investigators say this scenario has happened to at least three people this year. One suspect stole more than $8,000 from a victim.
“I mean, it’s whoever believes, believes their story. So it’s not always the older community, we’re just seeing that those guys are the ones reporting it, and it’s usually on behalf of family and friends,” Quarless said.
Pepco said its workers do not go to customers’ homes without notice and it would be pretty rare for an employee to come and knock on a customer’s door ask to come into their home.
“We typically read meters over the air so we’re not in the home,” said William Ellis, director of External Affairs for Pepco.
“We do not ask our customers to pay us via cash, if we do ask for payment because we are out, we actually ask you to call our call centers,” Ellis said.
County police are warning about another scheme that has resurfaced in which suspects pretend to be federal or local law enforcement agents or IT specialists.
Police said the suspects convinced victims that several of their bank accounts were compromised and tell them to withdraw money. Then, they gave the money to a carrier who showed up to their door.
“They’re having the appearance of urgency and secrecy, which is why victims are so eager in doing it,” Quarless said.
Victims have lost more than $105,000 combined in the last four weeks, police said.
“All we’re asking for everybody is just to pause. When you get those phone calls, hang up call a friend, call a bank using reliable numbers, back of your card, or just going up to the bank yourself and don’t rush to give your money,” Quarless said.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/ykFlVCN
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