Scammers Targeting Healdsburg Businesses

A crook is visiting Healdsburg businesses pretending to be a city employee and demanding payment for utilities, police say.

Police said in a press release that "several" local businesses had been targeted by the scammer, who said the victims' utilities would be shut off "if a payment was not made through PAK at either Dollar Tree, Circle K, or Rite-Aid."

The person is not a city employee, Healdsburg Police said in the press release.

A similar scam targeted Petaluma businesses in November. In that case, someone called several businesses claiming to work for PG&E. The scammer claimed the victim was late in paying his or her bills, and should make a payment via a prepaid debit card to avoid service being interrupted. At least one business-owner fell victim to that scam and made an unnecessary payment, Petaluma Police said at the time.

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