Scammers Targeting Carrboro Businesses

Several Carrboro businesses have been the target of a scam over the last couple of weeks.

Carrboro Police Captain Chris Atack says all of the scams had a common theme.

“We have had six reports between March 17 and March 19, we haven’t had any since, all of them were businesses located in and around the East Main Street – West Main Street area,” he says. “A caller would purport to be from Duke Power and claim that this particular business was in arrears significantly to where they were about to shut their power off.”

A bit of good news with this scam, no one has reportedly fallen for it.

“No known losses at this point. They were all recognized as being definitely suspicious,” Atack says. “But certainly someone [is] out there trying to see if they can catch someone unaware.”

Atack says the fact this is not the first we have heard of a scam like this may be contributing to business owners and residents being a bit more wary of these calls.

“I think these types of scams have been around now long enough where people are probably immediately suspicious,” he says. “People are starting to ask questions and not just trust what they hear on the phone. And I think that is key to stopping these things before there’s any loss.”

One negative associated with these calls is they are nearly impossible to track, and, therefore, the police department has no suspects at this time.

Going forward, Atack reminds residents being cautious when receiving a call like this can save a lot of time, hassle, and money in the long run.

“When someone calls to your house, be it your residence or your business, always be suspicious when they’re trying to create a high-pressure environment where you have to make a decision immediately and send money somewhere,” he says. “If you have any doubts in your mind, tell that person that you’ll call the company back directly and find a different way to get a phone number, other than that person on the phone.

“Be very suspicious because there are people out there that will definitely take advantage of a trusting soul on the phone.”

This is one of several scams going around our area recently, but Atack says all of the scams follow the same pattern.

“They’re all designed to create this sense of urgency in your mind, and there’s high pressure, and you have to make a decision now, and you have to give me money,” he says. “If you find yourself in that situation, there’s a good chance that’s a scam.

“Most legitimate businesses do not operate with that model.”

If you are on the receiving end of any of these calls you are asked to hang up and notify authorities, as well as the company the scammers are claiming to be from.