Dutchess County Senior Targeted in Convincing Central Hudson Phone Scam

Believable Central Hudson Scam Makes Its Rounds in Dutchess County

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about another scam making its way through town.

This time, the scammers are using Central Hudson as their cover.

According to a social media post from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office an elderly resident was targeted by scammers "claiming to be an employee of Central Hudson." The post goes on to explain:

The caller stated he owed $900 and that his power would be shut off immediately if he didn’t pay.

If you've been following the Central Hudson drama around town, you'll know that a $900 bill isn't unheard of which makes the call even more believable.

Be On The Look Out For Central Hudson Scam Call

Like many other ongoing scams, the latest Central Hudson scam was done over the phone.

The DC Sheriff's Office shares that the call came from the following phone number: (888)405-9717.

Luckily for the victim, he knew that he didn't owe Central Hudson $900 so he didn't send any money but he did "confirm his account number before realizing it may have been a scam."

In the statement the DC Sheriff's Office continues saying the victim "has since been advised to contact Central Hudson directly to request changes to his account information as a precaution."

As we learn about more and more scams finding their way in the area, we've learned that many companies and organizations will never ask for personal information over the phone, through email or through text.

Warning Signs of Scam: What To Look Out For

There are a handful of scams going on right now across the region.

Earlier this week, the Carmel Police Department shared details about a Zoning Board email scam. They suggested double checking the email address it was sent from as well as looking at the little details like the photo of the town seal.

READ MORE: Scammers Target Local Senior, Steal Significant Amount of Money

Additionally, senior citizens are often targeted (as we saw in the Central Hudson scam) as they may be unfamiliar with updated technologies.

Here are a few scams to be on the lookout for and how you can keep yourself safe: