Scam Advisory

There has been an uptick in the reports of larcenies under false pretense (scams) over the last several weeks. There have been several types of scams reported by both individuals and businesses.

A number of businesses throughout Brookline have been the target of scams purported by individuals claiming to work for NSTAR. In each case, a business received a fraudulent call from an individual claiming to be a representative of NSTAR. The individual stated that the business had an outstanding debt on their electricity bill and that their electricity would be shut off if they did not pay by a certain time with a prepaid card.

A second scam that has been reported involved the false claim of being hired to do work around a victim’s home. In this case, the victim stated that a male individual rang her doorbell stating that he was hired by a neighbor to put up a fence adjacent to the victim’s property. The victim allowed the suspect to enter her kitchen so that he could look at the property from a window. After the suspect left, the victim discovered that her bedroom had been ransacked and that there was an extensive amount of jewelry missing. It appears that the first suspect distracted the victim while a second individual entered the home and stole the jewelry.

The Brookline Police Department advises residents and businesses to be cautious of such scams. When in doubt, call the company to verify such claims before sending any money or allowing anyone into your home. If you believe you have been the victim of a scam please report it to the police.