Bold scammers have sunk to new depths in W-B Twp. | Columns | #coronavirus | #scams | #covid19

I would like to inform my township readers to be aware of two scams that have been going rampant lately in the township. If you receive a telephone call from the township municipal’s main phone number, 570-208-4635, there are some individuals (scammers) who are spoofing the township’s number. The township and the police department will never call you to solicit payment of fines, court costs, bail payments, tax payments, or parking ticket fees via phone. Do not give any of your personal information to anyone claiming they are calling from the township or police department without proper verification. The township would never request payments be made in the form of a gift card(s) or moneygram/Western Union.

I have also received this scam several times during the week by scammers: Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) has received countless reports of scammers using creative, yet deceitful, tactics to get you to sign up for an electricity supplier that may charge you more than what you are paying currently. Protect yourself by watching out for these suspicious behaviors and messages:

— Callers that claim you’re being overcharged on your electric bill to persuade you to sign up with a new supplier for a refund or lower price;

— Threats to shut off your service if you don’t switch your electricity supplier.

PPL never markets or sells supplier services. If you get a call from someone who claims they represent PPL, you are being scammed. Never provide your banking passwords or your account number over the phone when someone calls you, even if the telephone number on your caller ID looks like PPL’s number.

Call PPL at 1-800-342-5775 to report this scam.

Spaghetti dinner

Fire Chief Rich Hart has announced that township tower, George Kleppinger, owner of Act Towing, will be holding his second free spaghetti/meatball dinner for all township residents from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the township fire house. Kleppinger also invites all township police officers, on and off duty. There will be only take-outs available.

Garbage/yard waste schedule

Due to the Labor Day holiday, yard waste will be picked up by the township on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Garbage and recyclables will be picked up on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Council meetings

Council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31. A work session will follow. The regular monthly council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Gerald Shinal will preside. All general public entering the municipal building must wear masks.

Our Lady of Hope news

The weekend Mass schedule for Our Lady of Hope will change starting Sunday, Sept. 6. Mass is currently being held only on Saturdays at 4 p.m.

A Sunday Mass will be added starting Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m.

The schedule will be effective until the pandemic lessens. Parishioners are reminded to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions.

Bernadine Elick writes “Wilkes-Barre Township Talk” every other Thursday. Contact her at elickbern59@aol.com, or 570-823-7540.