Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith wishes to warn local businesses of a telephone scam that has been perpetrated by an unknown subject.

Recently, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department has received a number of inquiries from businesses in the Philipstown area that have received telephone calls from a person claiming to be a representative of Central Hudson Gas and Electric. The caller states that the business is behind in their electric payments, and that their power will be disconnected if payment is not received by 5:00 p.m. Some businesses have independently verified with CHG&E that the calls have not been generated by that utility. The caller has created a sense of fear and urgency in the business owners by ordering them to pay the “overdue bills” in an unconventional fashion, such as via Western Union or via nearby pharmacies that offer a service to wire funds to undisclosed locations.

The Sheriff urges local business owners who receive such a call to verify the information via the telephone number displayed on their bill.