Door-To-Door Scam Reports Mount In Peabody

PEABODY, MA -- Would-be scammers did not take the Fourth of July holiday week off in Peabody. Residents have taken to social media to report an increase in people coming to their doors, posing as electric, gas and cable company representatives.

One resident posted about someone showing up at her door saying he was a utility company employee and warning her of a rate increase. He then asked for her account information. Another resident said a man dressed in a Comcast uniform said he needed to check her cable box because of reported errors. When the resident said she was going to call Comcast to check his claim, he told her "Well, they won't know anything about this. I'm the only person who can explain it to you."

The man also said he would keep coming back if she did not let him in and that Comcast would disconnect her service if she did not let him check her cable box.

In April, an elderly Peabody resident was robbed after letting a man he thought was from the water department into his home. The man was wearing a badge and said he needed to check the bathroom. While the victim and suspect were talking in the bathroom with the water running and the door closed, an accomplice entered the residence and stole $1,400 in cash.

Residents who suspect they have been targeted by a scammer should call the Peabody Police Department’s non-emergency lines at 978-531-1212 or 978-538-6300.

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Patch file photo vis Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).