Sheriff issues warning over utility scam

Allen says residents at risk of being duped by shut-off threats

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Nearly all of us have received the call, in one form or another: “There is a warrant out for your arrest for an unpaid ticket. We need to collect a $350 payment over the phone today to resolve this matter.”

“There is an IRS lien on your property for $1,000 for unpaid taxes. Make a payment today, or your assets will be seized.”

“You have won the top prize in the International Lottery of $5 million. You only need to send $2,400 by wire to cover the transfer of funds. Please provide your banking account number and routing number to receive your money.”

There are countless different varieties of these “phishing” tactics, but they are all, in a word, scams.

And scammers will go to endless lengths to separate their unsuspecting victims from their hard-earned money, especially preying upon the poor and the elderly, often those who can least afford to become victim to these swindlers and unfortunately, those who are most likely to fall for them.

Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen recently alerted county residents of one such scam that has been making the rounds among local citizens, and this particular shakedown isn’t limiting itself to homeowners.

“Another scam is going around Crittenden County,” said Allen on Tuesday after-

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noon. “This morning a business was contacted and advised that the caller was a driver with Entergy and that he was on his way to turn their power off if they didn’t pay a partial payment of $1,900 to keep their power on.”

Allen said the caller advised the business that to avoid the disconnect they needed to go to Walgreens and purchase a green dot credit card and call an 888 number that they gave them and pay it over the phone.

“The business was smart enough not to fall for this and reported it to the police. Anytime you’re told to purchase a green dot card to pay a bill please spot the red flag and report this.”

Financial advisors all suggest that any time a call concerning a suspicious debt is received to request an itemized bill in the mail.

To report this or any other suspected scam, contact the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 482-8982.