WAPA Scam Hits VI Businesses: Pay $1,000 Or Get Disconnected

ST. THOMAS — A new scam that’s threatening local businesses of power disconnection if a large sum of money isn’t paid immediately, is affecting the territory and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) is warning business owners to beware of the new scheme.

That’s according to WAPA’s Acting Executive Director Julio A. Rhymer, Sr., who made known in a press release issued on Tuesday that someone who identifies himself as “Edwin Lopez”, has been calling local businesses and threatening disconnection if the sum of $1,000 isn’t immediately paid via a prepaid purchase of what he calls a “Business Finance Credit Card” from Wallgreen’s.

Lopez then orders victims of his fraud scheme to call 347-349-6271 with the card number to prevent immediate power disconnection.

Rhymer, understandably concerned, said WAPA does not have anyone calling to make such payments and urged customers to immediately report such activity.

“We are concerned that such actions are taking place by unknown individuals, requesting information seemingly based on WAPA’s operations,” she said. “We want to immediately caution our business customers to disregard such calls and report the information to the proper authorities.”

Rhymer also cautioned WAPA customers to be careful when sharing personal information, and maintained that the company’s system showed no signs of breach, although an investigation was underway.

“At this time, there is no evidence that WAPA’s customer information system has been compromised, however, the investigations related to these illegal scams will remain active.”

Customers who do not receive their billing statement in the mail during the usual time period expected each month, should contact WAPA on St. Thomas at 774-3552, St. John at 776-6446 or St. Croix at 773-2250 and report the information to a customer service representative who will attempt verify account information during the call, according to Rhymer.

The acting director said suspicious activity should be reported to the VIPD, Crime Stoppers, or WAPA’s internal audit revenue assurance division via email at [email protected].