An east side restaurant was the victim of a scam last week involving a male caller who identified himself as an employee of ComEd, saying that the electricity to the business would be shut off due to non-payment if the bill wasn’t paid immediately.

On Jan. 14 at 1:00 p.m., St. Charles Police personnel responded to a dispatch of a telephone scam that occurred at a sub & pizza restaurant, located in the 2700 Block of E. Main Street.  

Upon arrival, the victim told police personnel that he received a call at the business earlier in the morning from a man who represented himself as an employee of ComEd.  The subject gave his name as “Steve Johnson” and he advised that the business owed $489.86 for electricity and that power to the business would be shut off at 12:15 p.m. for nonpayment.  

The victim was instructed to go to an area Walgreens and purchase a Green Dot Money Pak card in the exact amount, and then provide the card number for payment.  

A short time later, another male subject called the victim and said he was from ComEd and was on his way to shut off the power.  

The victim obtained the money card and the first caller placed another telephone call to the business and he was given the number for the card by the victim.  The suspect advised that he would cancel the shut off order to the business. 

A short time later the victim suspect that it may have been some type of scam since he has electric service from the City of St. Charles and he verified that his account was current.  He then called police to report the incident.  

Follow-up investigation into the incident is continuing.  The City of St. Charles would like to remind citizens and business owners that if an account is in disconnect status, no utility payments are taken over the telephone, on line, or through Money Pak cards.  

If a resident or business is in disconnect status, a courtesy call would be made by city personnel by telephone, but payment would only be accepted at the office in city hall.