Joliet Residents Soaked on Water Bill Scam
Ruthless grifters have targeted Joliet residents with a water bill con, telling some a program instituted by President Obama will pay their way.
Joliet residents believing they were getting a helping hand from the federal government instead have fallen prey to identity thieves, police said.
"It's a nationwide thing," Joliet police Detective Chris Schott of the scam that recently hit Joliet.
"People are under the assumption there's a federal program" to help them with their water bills, Schott explained. In exchange for a social security number, victims are given a bank account number to provide to their water supplier.
Some victims were told they were getting assistance through a new program instituted by President Obama, the detective said.
The city billing department was given this bank account number by numerous residents on Monday, Schott said. It turns out the bank account number doesn't exist.
Not only are the residents still on the hook for their water bill and whatever late fees they may have accrued, its likely their financial identities appropriated.
"There will be a high probability," Schott said.
Residents of Detroit also have been hit by this scam, according to the Detroit News:
Many of the Jolietans bilked in the water bill con said they heard about the phony program through "word of mouth," Schott said.
In warning residents about the scam, Schott also advised it is not a good idea to give out your social security number.
In This article
-
City of Joliet
150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL -
Joliet Police Department
150 W Washington St, Joliet, IL
Eric Rose
2:14 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
You need to attach a picture of what the story is about. A picture of the water department might do, or the house where the scam originated. It's not about Obama, it's about a water bill scam. If the users don't click through to read the story, they might assume that Obama and his 'ruthless grifters' maliciously scammed some Joliet residents. I am being a bit facetious here but I hope you understand my point.
Infamous Steve
9:38 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I can't belive people are STILL this stupid! Then again that explains why we are in the horrible position we are in.
Lynn Davis-Livesay
2:18 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
This is not surprising, since citizens are struggling with paying all kinds of bills in this economy, especially their utilities. See http://www.electryanalm.com/energy.htm
Flora Dora
8:26 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Our President gets the blame again!
xiaohui123
1:42 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
789with which a consensus emerged within hours t http://www.coachfactoryoutletonlinebc.org air force, Western governments have shown little appetite for http://www.coachoutletod.com new military ventures in such a complex Arab state.nd Russia and China, which have blocked http://www.coachfactoryoutletbo.net previous moves against Assad in the United Nations http://www.coachoutletpn.com swiftly to alter positions which call for dialogue with Assad and view opposition groups http://www.coachfactorystoredo.com as being in thrall to the West.egional power Iran, in whose Shi'ite brand of http://www.coachfactoryoutletsp.com Islam Assad's Alawite minority has its religious roots, remains firmly behind the president http://www.coachoutletstorefb.com in a conflict which pits him against majority Sunni Muslims supported by Iran's http://www.coachoutletstoreonlinert.com Sunni Arab adversaries.After long arguments over whether and how to form the new http://www.coachoutletonlinelc.net opposition assembly, the speed with whichttp://www.coachoutletonlinelon.com that Khatib stood unopposed for the post of president was notable and may encourage its http://www.coachoutletonlinelsa.com supportersHis deputies will be Riad Seif, a veteran dissident who had proposed the U.S.-backed initiative http://www.coachoutletrf.com to set up an umbrella group uniting groups inside and outside Syria, and Suhair al-Atassi, one http://www.coachfactoryonlinebp.com of the