Logan Township Police Warn of South Jersey Gas Scammers

LOGAN TWP. – Scammers have called several businesses recently in the Pureland Industrial Park, posing as South Jersey Gas representatives and threatening to shut off the business’ gas unless they paid an overdue bill, police said.

Logan Township Police Inv. Lee Hopkins said he’s learned of four such calls since March 14, three of which were made within 24 hours of Wednesday afternoon.

In each case, the caller had in-depth knowledge of the business’ payment history, “down to the last cent,” Hopkins said.

Scammers asked the would-be victims to buy Green Dot Visa cards, then give them the card information so they could withdraw money, he added.

At times, the investigator noted, the caller has put a third person on the line claiming to be another South Jersey Gas representative, or connected to that person on a three-way line, to confirm they’d shut off gas service if a payment wasn’t made.

One company, fearful of interrupting production, gave in and lost $1,400 in the scam, Hopkins said.

He’s warning businesses not to fall for it and not to fork over any money. Anyone receiving such calls should contact the local police department. Anyone getting the call in Logan can contact that police department at 856-467-0061. There, Hopkins can be reached at extension 3034.

By Joe Green/South Jersey Times

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2014/03/logan_township_police_warn_of_scammers_posing_as_south_jersey_gas_reps.html