Crime & Safety
Palatine Police Warn of Fraud
Police say residents and business owners should be aware of anyone who makes threats and demands payment via MoneyPak over the phone, especially if they contact you.
Palatine Police are warning residents and business owners of a money card fraud alter.
Police say on Tuesday October 15th, a Palatine business owner received a call allegedly from ComEd advising him that he was past due on a payment and they would be shutting off his electricity.
The business owner was told to remit payment of $1,000 immediately via a MoneyPak card. The business owner purchased a $1,000 MoneyPak card and provided the caller with the card number. He later learned that this was a scam.
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Palatine Police have determined there have been several additional business owners victimized using similar MoneyPak card ruses by falsely representing themselves as a service provider. We encourage our residents and business owners to be skeptical of anyone who makes threats or demands any payment over the phone via MoneyPak, particularly if they contacted you.
The Palatine Police warn all business owners and residents to be aware of similar fraudulent schemes, and to report them immediately by calling 9-1-1. If a caller claims to be from any service provider, the resident or business owner should confirm this by contacting the service provider directly. Contact the Palatine Police Crime Prevention Unit at (847) 359-9061 with any questions.
