Police: Scam Artists Pose As Wilmington Water Workers

WILMINGTON, MA -- A Wilmington resident called police in recent days after becoming suspicious of people posing as workers from the town's water department. Police say Wilmington is among several area towns hit by scammers, who say they need to perform an emergency inspection for lead in water or, in some cases, reset a meter after a water main break.

Typically, the scam artists work in pairs and try to distract the homeowner so one of them can access the rest of the home unsupervised. They often target elderly residents.

"If an individual approaches your residence or stops to ask questions regarding any utilities or permits, please ask for official town issued identification or call the Wilmington Police Department to verify whether the person is affiliated with the town," Wilmington Police said in a notice on its Website. "You may also contact the Wilmington Department of Public Works at 978-658-4481 during normal business hours. In almost all cases, the Town of Wilmington will notify residents if Water Department employees need to gain access to a residence prior to the visit."

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Patch file photo.

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