Troopers Warn Businesses About Electric Bill Phone Scam

Dates of Occurrence:
August 2, 2013
August 8, 2013

Location:
Two Wilmington area restaurants

Resume:
Wilmington – Troopers are warning business owners about a scam that has cost two Wilmington area restaurants thousands of dollars.

In the first incident on August 2, an unknown male called a West Newport Pike restaurant. The male claimed to be from Delmarva Power, and advised the power to the business would be shutoff if the past due electric bill was not paid within the hour.

The caller instructed a restaurant employee to purchase a Greendot MoneyPak card at a local store. After the employee put money on the card she provided the caller with the card information. The caller contacted her shortly thereafter, and advised that the card had not worked. The restaurant employee then purchased another card and provided the information to the caller. She later learned that the caller had withdrawn the money from the accounts on both cards, and that the caller was not associated with Delmarva Power.

The second incident occurred on August 8 when a Silverside Road restaurant was called by a male purporting to be a Delmarva Power employee. After being informed that the electric bill was past due and a shutoff was imminent, the restaurant owner purchased several Greendot MoneyPak cards and provided the caller with the cards' information, allowing him to withdraw money from the cards' accounts. The next day the restaurant owner determined that the money had not gone to Delmarva Power.

Troopers remind the public to be skeptical of unexpected callers who request money for a business. Never assume the caller is legitimate. Always obtain the business's phone number from a source other than the caller, and contact the business directly. Delmarva Power customers in New Castle County can call 1-800-375-7117 to check billing account status. Additionally, Delmarva Power does not contact past due customers by phone without first sending notice by mail.

If anyone has any information in reference to this scam, they are asked to contact the Troop 2 Financial Crimes Unit at 302-834-2630 extension 219, or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."