Redding Police Blotter: Eversource Scam, Stolen Hemp Plant

REDDING, CT — A missing botanical and the latest in a series of phone scams topped the Redding police blotter from Sept. 3-9.

On Sept. 9, police answered a call from a Redding Road resident complaining their hemp plant was stolen. The plan was legally grown, according to permit data supplied to the police.

When contacted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told police to have the victim notify their office for follow-up on the incident.

On Sept. 3, a Sunset Hill Road resident complained to police of being "scammed out of $400" by someone claiming they were from Eversource collecting on a bill.

Police throughout the area are reporting that they have received calls from people claiming to be Eversource employees, who warn them that their electricity will be shut off unless immediate payment is received. The scammers are requesting payment in Bitcoin.

Police are reminding residents and business owners that:

• Eversource representatives never ask for instant payment in person or over the phone.
• Eversource representatives do not require the use of prepaid debit services such as Bitcoin, Green Dot MoneyPak, Vanilla or Reloadit.
• Eversource representatives never request customers meet at a payment center, such as a department or grocery store, to make a payment.

Anyone who receives a suspicious phone from someone claiming to be an Eversource representative should hang up and call Eversource at 800-286-2000.