National Grid impersonator tries to dupe Barrington resident

Suspicious character won't show resident his ID

EastBayRI.com ·

Barrington police responded to a Richmond Avenue residence on Tuesday, Sept. 27, for a report of a suspicious visitor.

Elderly Barrington residents too smart for scam.

The female resident told police a man had come to her door, identified himself as a National Grid employee, and then asked to see her electric bill.

The woman asked to see the man's ID, but he refused, saying that it was a bad picture of him.

He then reportedly became evasive and later left the property.

Police called National Grid; an employee there said the situation experienced by the Barrington woman had been experienced elsewhere and was likely perpetrated by a competing utility company that wanted the woman to switch over her service.