Crime & Safety

Bristol Businesses Targeted in Utility Phone Scam

Several local shops reported getting the National Grid phone scam call.

Nine businesses in Bristol reported getting calls in the recent National Grid utility scam, according to the Bristol Police.

According to police reports, a rash of scam calls — where the caller demands immediate payment for what they claim to be is a past-due balance — were made to Bristol businesses on Aug. 13 and 14, triggering the recent alert.

An employee of Le Central on Hope Street reported the first call at 11:15 on Aug. 13, and said that the caller asked for a "Green Dot" gift card to pay off the alleged balance.

Over the next day, Bristol officers recorded eight more instances, including a resident of Hope Street and the following businesses:

  • Classic Pizza House, Aug. 13 at 5:28 p.m.;
  • Ricotti Sandwich Shop, Aug. 14 at 9 a.m.;
  • 1776 Liquors, Aug. 14 at 12:30 p.m.;
  • Bristol Bagel Works, Aug. 14 at 12:33 p.m.;
  • Viola's Liquors, Aug. 14 at 12:46 p.m.;
  • The Beehive Cafe, Aug. 14 at 2:03 p.m.;
  • Bristol Family Restaurant, Aug. 14 at 2:28 p.m.
Then, on Aug. 23 at about noontime, the owner of Hair, Heart, and Soul on State Street called police and reported that she'd gotten the scam call, as well.

In the 1776 Liquors case, the caller requested $1,498.97 in cash; in the Ricotti case, the caller asked for $1,004.98.

National Grid has confirmed that its employees do not take payments over the phone when discussing overdue bills.

None of the businesses provided the money to the scam callers, according to police reports.


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