Beware of
utility scam
HARTFORD — State officials last week urged families to recognize the signs that they’re being targeted by scam artists threatening to turn off their utilities.
In this scam, someone typically calls, but might also text message or email claiming to be a representative from a local utility company. Scammers will threaten to shut off consumers’ power unless they pay hundreds of dollars immediately in an untraceable form of payment such as a wire transfer or prepaid card.
The Office of the Attorney General has received reports that scammers are specifically targeting low-income Eversource consumers, who already struggle to pay their bill, threatening utility shut-off and demanding immediate payment via a prepaid card.
If you receive a phone call, email or text message from a scammer who threatens to shut off your power unless you provide payment immediately, you should: Hang up the phone. Don’t click on any links, and if it looks suspicious, don’t open the text or email.
Never pay anyone via prepaid card or wire transfer. Reputable companies will never require you to. Contact your utility company to report the scam, and to verify that you don’t owe any money. Use the contact information you typically use to contact them, not any contact information you received through a potentially fraudulent message.
Remember, your utility company will not demand immediate payment to prevent shut-off over the phone in Connecticut.
“Scammers target both residential and business customers and no part of the state is immune,” said Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner. “The key to stopping these scammers is to stay calm - don’t panic and don’t pay. Together with our fellow energy companies, the Attorney General, the Department of Consumer Protection, AARP and local law enforcement, we’re urging any of our customers who receive a suspicious phone call or home visit to call us at 1-800-286-2000 to verify any request for payment or personal information.”
“The Regional Water Authority (RWA) takes steps to ensure that residents of the communities in our service area can easily verify the work we do in order to help protect themselves against scammers,” said RWA Police Captain Paul Ruggiero. “A common tactic of scammers is to pose as utility employees and warn of an imminent service termination unless you pay. When someone tells you there is no time to stop and think, it’s usually the best time to do so. If someone contacts you or a loved one and claims to be from the RWA, always ask for identification and don’t hesitate to call our office directly at 203-562-4020 and ask for verification. Most importantly, never let someone in your home if you do not know them or they don’t prove their identity.”
The Office of the Attorney General also began to receive reports last year that scammers may have access to important information about consumers such as accurate account numbers and delinquent bills, making it even harder for consumers to detect the scam:
Consumer Protection: https://ct.gov/dcp/complaint; (860) 713-6300
Office of the Attorney General; https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint; (860) 808-5318
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PSA takes 3rd
in national
tournament
It would have been so much easier if they got blown out, lost by 20, never had a chance.
But for the Putnam Science Academy girls’ prep basketball team, a one-point loss in the semifinals of the Insider Exposure Independent School Nationals last weekend meant that their third-place overall finish was, well, bittersweet to say the least.
The Mustangs won games Feb. 21 (66-47 over TPLS) and Feb. 22 (62-60 over Niagara Prep) to advance to the Final Four Saturday night. It was there that their season came up just short, when they fell 46-45 to eventual champion Winston Salem Christian Academy.
“To lose by one point, it really makes you think,” PSA coach Devin Hill said Feb. 23, following the team’s 55-39 win over King’s Christian Collegiate in the consolation game. “When you’re that close, and you have a lead with a few minutes to go, you felt like you had control and that we had a real chance to play for a championship...It’s really tough to get that close and really feel like, ‘Hey we can run this thing, we can do this.’
“So it’s an ‘all things considered’ kind of thing. But yes, I am proud of how we finished.”
The Mustangs (16-9) led Winston Salem by five with about two minutes to play but got into foul trouble, leading their opponent to get back in the game. But PSA still had its chances. Sharpshooter Delaney Haines missed a contested 3-pointer late that would have tied the game, and Aaliyah Brittian’s field goal in the final seconds could have been an and-1 opportunity but the referees did not call a foul despite at least some contact on the shot. Brittian’s basket accounted for the final score.
Shawni Cornfield had 11 points, Sabou Gueye 10, and Gaines nine in the loss.
Sunday morning’s third-place game, despite the wide final margin of victory, was no sure thing for PSA. KCC actually led 13-4 early before PSA responded.
“It’s the human element,” Hill said. “We just played two really tough games, physically and emotionally tough games, so there was going to be some kind of letdown. But we responded, especially in the second half.”
Lani Cornfield scored a game-high 14 points in the win. Shawni Cornfield and Haines finished with 13 apiece.
PSA opened its weekend with its second win of the season over TPLS; the teams played in the season-opener back in October. Just as that first one was a convincing victory, so was too this.
Lani Cornfield went for 20 and Sabou Gueye 17 for the Mustangs. Sarah Streete also had her best game of the season, giving PSA seven big points.
“Sabou was great,” Hill said of the incredibly gifted wing player, who still has another year to go at PSA. “The secret is about to be out on her.”
The Mustangs handled their business in the second round as well, taking down Niagara Prep in a tight game. Brittian and Niya Fields came up with huge steals in the final minute to seal the victory.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.
Feb. 15
Shaun Currier, 40, Woodstock Avenue, Putnam; speeding.
Feb. 20
William Larkin, 55, Hartford Pike, Dayville; operating under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast
Benjamin Benoit, 17, Thompson Road, Thompson; speeding.
Feb. 21
Steven Integlia, 31, Mellen Road, Woodstock; cell phone, operating under suspension.
Beatriz Lafountain, 29, Lincoln Avenue, Holden, Mass.; operating without a license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Feb. 22
Shannon Leo, 32, Fox Hill Road, Pomfret Center; speeding.
Hanna Deshaw, 24, Spring Hill Road, Woodstock; speeding.
Feb. 23
Sarah Bland, 41, Oak Drive, Woodstock; sixth-degree larceny.
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Join class
ALBANY, N.Y. — Two Woodstock students, Erika Helmetag and Rebekah Wesler, joined the class at the University of Albany.
On list
BOSTON — Stephanie C. Roy of Pomfret Center and Renee Suchy of Dayville were named to the dean’s list at Boston University for spring.
Inducted
WILLIMANTIC — Jaycen Bizzle ’21 of Dayville, a pre-secondary education and English major at ECSU was inducted into the English Honors Society.
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