Bainbridge blotter | Zapped by phone scammer

Published 1:30 pm Saturday, June 3, 2017

Selected reports from the Bainbridge Island Police Department blotter.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

1:51 p.m. A 79-year-old Poulsbo man reported he had been the victim of a phone scam.

The man said he had been contacted by somebody impersonating Puget Sound Energy on the day before, who said he needed to pay $495.88 to continue his service.

The man went to Rite Aid, on Bainbridge, and paid cash for a temporary Visa card, loading it with the requested amount. He then gave the card’s information to the caller.

Then, he did it again.

Having spent $991.76, the man was cautioned by an employee at Rite Aid that he was most likely being scammed, at which point he called PSE and realized his error. Then he called the police.