MONROE, CT — An 80-year-old Monroe woman was scammed out of $2,000 by someone claiming to be from “Eversource Electric,” who told her she owed money for her May and June bills and that her power would be shut off if she did not pay right away.
“If a customer receives a call out of the blue demanding immediate payment, it’s a scam,” said Al Lara, a spokesperson from Eversource Energy. “We would not disconnect service for nonpayment without prior written notification, usually accompanying a bill, and never after just a single notification.”
“Even if a caller can provide basic information about you or your account, it’s always a good idea to call us directly to verify the status of an account,” he added.
The caller told the woman to pay via the Zelle app, and because she used the app before, police said she told officers the request did not seem suspicious to her.
The two bills in question were $500 each. When she sent the money, the caller said the transaction did not go through, so she did it again, doubling the amount to a total of $2,000, police said.
Police said the case is being investigated by Chase Bank’s fraud department.
A stolen wallet
A wallet and five dollars cash were stolen from an unlocked Dodge Charger parked in the driveway of a home on Stanley Road, according to a complaint filed by the 30-year-old victim Wednesday.
Police said the theft occurred sometime overnight and was discovered the next morning, adding no other thefts were reported in the surrounding neighborhood.
The wallet contained the victim’s driver’s license, his health insurance card, bank card and three credit cards. Police said he cancelled his credit cards and froze his bank card.
An attempt was made to use one of the credit cards, but the transaction did not go through, police said.
The man’s driver’s license was later found on the ground in front of the Veterans Affairs Hospital on Campbell Avenue in West Haven and police there dropped it off at the East Haven Police Department for the victim to pick up, according to the report.
Online scam
A Monroe woman told police her son was bilked out of $700 in an online scam, according to a complaint filed Wednesday.
Their bank, Wells Fargo, opened a fraud investigation and the Monroe Police Department’s Detective Division is also looking into the case.
Risk of injury
A 30-year-old Monroe woman turned herself in on a warrant Tuesday charging her with risk of injury.
Police said officers doing a welfare check at her home on June 7 found her lying in bed. She appeared to be confused, told them she was on medications, and that she was supposed to get her daughter off the bus, according to the report.
She spoke with a slurred speech and was uneasy on her feet, police said, adding Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated her and she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Connecticut Department of Children and Families was notified, according to the 112895report. The woman was released on $5,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court.
Amazing how much information these scammers have. Shouldn’t Eversource be held accountable for cyber security deficiencies??