Crime & Safety

Joliet Police Warn of Phone Scam

Green Dot card ploy is targeting local businesses.

Joliet police on Sunday issued a warning about a phone scam targeting local businesses.

Scammers have been calling businesses and trying to get staff to make supposed utility payments using a pre-paid debit card, police said.

"Area businesses are being called and told that they owe money for a utility bill and it must be paid in the next 45 minutes or the utility will be shut off," police said. "They then state that the payment must be made by a Green Dot Cash card."

Police said the fraudsters are even "spoofing" their phone numbers to make it appear that the calls are coming from a legitimate utility company.

The callers claim that there is an arrest warrant for the business owner, but that it can be taken care of if the bill is paid immediately using a Green Dot Cash card.

"If you receive this type of call, always call back to the number that you have for the company to verify any late or missed payments," police said in a release warning businesses of the scam. "Police departments DO NOT take care of warrants over the phone."




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