The Damariscotta Police Department is again warning residents and business owners to be on the alert for suspicious phone calls regarding utility payments and disconnections.
Damariscotta Police Officer Erick Halpin received two separate reports on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from Damariscotta business owners who received phone calls from someone claiming to work for Central Maine Power Co.
The caller told the business owners the company was on its way to disconnect the business’s utilities unless the owner paid by credit card or wire transfer immediately, Halpin said.
The caller would then leave the phone number 800-593-6540 for the business owner to call for more information. The number is not listed on the CMP website.
When Halpin called the number provided, he was brought to an automated message system claiming to be CMP’s. The system had instructions to dial an extension to speak with a customer service representative.
The representative, who identified himself as Mark Steven from the Portland location, hung up when Halpin identified himself as a police officer.
Business owners were also instructed to dial another number, 866-978-6544, which is also fraudulent, Halpin said.
This is the second time a scam of this nature has been reported in Damariscotta this year, the first being at the end of March. Halpin said the number used in the March scam later connected to an automated message system claiming to be at a utility provider in California.
Halpin said the messages may seem very believable, however, CMP does not shut off power the same day it notifies customers of a problem.
“If anyone gets a call that their power is about to be shut off without prior notification, it’s bogus,” Halpin said. “CMP has a process for this that needs to be followed.”
Halpin also recommended not to give personal information, such as account numbers, over the phone, and to follow up with a verified number listed on CMP’s website at cmpco.com.
According to the CMP website, the company will not call a customer for payment if the account is in good standing. Customers can check their balance at cmpco.com or by calling 800-750-4000 (residential customers) or 800-565-3181 (business customers).
