JACKSON — The latest telephone scam to hit Jackson is targeting small businesses by making false claims to represent the energy provider Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L).
So far, police said, the owners of two businesses have filed reports stating they received calls from a person who claimed to be a representative of JCP&L.
In the first instance, which was reported to authorities on April 25, officials said one business owner fell prey to the scheme.
According to police, a person who claimed to be a JCP&L employee stated that the company’s electric bill was past due and that, if the bill was left unpaid, the electricity would be turned off.
At the request of the caller, the business owner purchased a number of prepaid debit cards totaling in excess of $1,500. The person called the individual back to complete the payment. After completing the transaction, the business owner called JCP&L and learned his account had never been overdue.
Police said another instance of the scam occurred on April 26 when a business owner received a similar call from a person claiming to represent JCP&L and stating that the company’s account was overdue. During the call, the caller told the business owner to purchase the same type of prepaid debit card in order to pay the bill over the phone.
The business owner began questioning the caller and the caller’s supervisor about the alleged debt. Police said the supervisor eventually became irate with the business owner and said the firm’s reputation would be hurt if the owner was unable to pay the electric bill. In response to the threat, the business owner hung up on the caller and reported the incident to police.
In April, Jackson police warned residents about a telephone scam that sought to capitalize on tax season.
In that scheme, police said residents received calls from individuals masquerading as federal employees seeking payment for taxes owed to the government. The caller claimed that if money was not sent through a prepaid debit card within a certain amount of time, the government would press criminal charges.
During an investigation into the JCP&L scam, police officers attempted to call the number provided by both business owners; however, no one answered.
Both schemes required their targets to complete the fake transaction by using quick and largely untraceable methods such as a money order or a prepaid debit card.
Jackson police Lt. Steven Laskiewicz said individuals and business owners should verify the information they are being given by a caller before buying a prepaid card to make a payment. He said the utility company will not call to demand payment and/or threaten to turn off the power to a business.
If a debt is actually owed to the utility in question, debtors are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.