Police caution against possible scam artist
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Staff Report
Staff Report
Staff Report - Published: July 3, 2009
MONTPELIER – The Montpelier Police Department is warning residents to be wary of phone scams after a local resident wired money to a person posing as a relative.
In the recent case, the caller pretended to be a relative of the victim and said they had been arrested and needed bail money. The victim wired money only to find out it was a scam, police said.
Police said the impersonation scam is a common one, along with Internet, telemarketing and Craigslist scams.
"If you receive unsolicited e-mails, telephone calls or packages via the U.S. Postal service or other surface delivery company, be suspicious and contact your local law enforcement agency before responding or sending money," police said in a release.
Consumer tips and information about scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Vermont Attorney General's office, along with local law enforcement agencies.
Times Argus Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN – A 23-year-old Colchester man totaled the car he was driving after falling asleep at the wheel in Williamstown on Thursday, according to a Vermont State Police news release.
Derrick M. Perreault was uninjured after the car went off Interstate 89 but was issued a ticket for falling asleep at the wheel, police said.
Perreault was driving south on the interstate when his vehicle went off the west side of the highway at the Exit 5 off ramp. Police said Perreault's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer hit a sign post before coming to rest in the median separating the southbound lane from the off ramp.
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