Winnetka Warns Residents of Multi-State Scam

The Village of Winnetka is warning residents about a multi-state scam where individuals attempt to steal utility bill payments and personal information such as social security numbers from unsuspecting victims.

The scammers have used automated phone calls, door-to-door visits and contacted victims through email stating President Barack Obama has approved special funding through the Federal Reserve Bank for utility bill assistance, according to the Village of Winnetka website.

Once victims give up their personal information, scammers give them a fraudulent bank routing number to pay their utility bills into-with the intention of stealing the payments.

Residents are warned that the funding does not exist, and they should be
vigilant against the scam.

The crimes have so far been reported in Illinois, California, Texas and
Tennessee and were brought to the attention of the village by the American Public Power Association.

So far there have been no reports of Winnetka customers falling prey to the criminal activity.

At the end of May, the involving fraudulent phone calls where residents were told they had missed jury duty and were required to give their social security number to stop arrest warrants issued for them.

Those scams were reported by the FBI to have occurred in Illinois, as well as California, Colorado, Arizona and New York.