Scam targeting those in need

STONINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Folks in Stonington already hit with storm damage and power outages could be hit again, but not by mother nature.

News 8 called Capt. Jerry Desmond of the Stonington Police for details of an after storm scam and what the caller says.

"Because of the storm, we can help you with saving on your electric bills, we just need some of your personal information to get this done," Capt. Desmond said.

The caller who claims to be with the power company hung up when the resident questioned him.

"It wouldn't surprise me if these type of things aren't going on in various communities," Capt. Desmond said.

"Mainly what they go after are the elderly, which I am," Joe Adams of Stonington said.

Joe Adams tells News 8 he has gotten calls after the storm from power companies offering their service at a cheaper rate.

"Most of the time I hang up on them. I don't even listen to them," Adams said.

"It's unthinkable, especially after what we just went through. It's unthinkable," Marnee Rogerson of Stonington said.

Marnee Rogerson says her brother was approached by someone offering to remove a fallen tree from his house.

"He said, I can take that tree down for you. He said, are you a tree guy? And he said, no, I'm a painter and he had no equipment and nothing and I don't know if he wanted a deposit or not," Rogerson said.

Police want folks to know if you suffered any damage or you have any losses for which you think you might be able to get some money, go to town hall and folks there will be able to point you in the right direction.

Never give any information out to anyone who calls you or contacts you in any way. Good advice, storm or no storm.