When a Newport business owner recently opened a bill from AT&T for nearly $30,000, he was shocked because he’s not an AT&T customer.Business owner Tim St. Pierre was sifting through the mail when he came across the bill.”It was a monthly invoice for about $29,000,” he said. “We don’t have any existing business with AT&T at all.”The bill was charging St. Pierre’s company for several phone lines and electronic devices. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"Originally, I didn't get too concerned about it," he said. "I assumed it was a fraudulent mailing, and somebody was fishing to try to get a credit card payment or something."A call to AT&T would confirm that it was a real bill. "So, I called the AT&T customer service guy, gave the account number, and he identified it as a legitimate account," St. Pierre said. "I told him it was fraudulently open. We do not have an AT&T account. I asked for the account to be closed and to get rid of the charges."St. Pierre said he was told he needed to provide his Social Security and other personal information to AT&T's fraud department in order to close the account. "I debated it. I did a quick Google search and saw that in 2024 alone, AT&T has had two major data breaches," St. Pierre said. "The fact that they didn't have my private information made me feel really good. I was no longer willing to submit it, so I felt like I was at a dead end."St. Pierre contacted WMUR for help. News 9 Investigates reached out to AT&T, and a spokesperson explained the process."We've spoken to the business owner," the spokesperson said. "We agree this appears to be fraud. Per our standard procedure, we've asked that he file a local police report about this crime, and the charges will be removed."News 9 Investigates also brought the case to the attention of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. "It's just the latest iteration of a very common scheme," said Senior Assistant Attorney General Brandon Garod. Garod said that while the office hasn't seen anything specific to St. Pierre's case before, it has seen an increase in scams and identity theft. "This is an extreme example of a circumstance where somebody is a victim of a huge amount of fraud, but this happens all the time with any sort of identity theft," he said.There are ways people can protect themselves from this sort of fraud."You've just got to pay attention, and you have to be diligent," Garod said. "Monitor your bank statements. Monitor your credit card statements. Monitor your credit check."Anyone who notices a fraudulent bill or charges should contact the company that sent the bill."If you are being charged for services or goods you didn't purchase, the company can reverse those charges if you're able to persuade them that this is not me who made these purchases," Garod said. "If that doesn't work, people should file a complaint with the attorney general's office."That advice was echoed by St. Pierre, who said he was happy he took a second look at that bill."Sometimes you don't open it, and you don't pay attention," he said. "For whatever reason, this one jumped out at me as I better pay attention to it. It's a message for everybody. Also, I'm hoping people realize there are resources out there. You've just got to be persistent."
When a Newport business owner recently opened a bill from AT&T for nearly $30,000, he was shocked because he’s not an AT&T customer.
Business owner Tim St. Pierre was sifting through the mail when he came across the bill.
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“It was a monthly invoice for about $29,000,” he said. “We don’t have any existing business with AT&T at all.”
The bill was charging St. Pierre’s company for several phone lines and electronic devices.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
“Originally, I didn’t get too concerned about it,” he said. “I assumed it was a fraudulent mailing, and somebody was fishing to try to get a credit card payment or something.”
A call to AT&T would confirm that it was a real bill.
“So, I called the AT&T customer service guy, gave the account number, and he identified it as a legitimate account,” St. Pierre said. “I told him it was fraudulently open. We do not have an AT&T account. I asked for the account to be closed and to get rid of the charges.”
St. Pierre said he was told he needed to provide his Social Security and other personal information to AT&T’s fraud department in order to close the account.
“I debated it. I did a quick Google search and saw that in 2024 alone, AT&T has had two major data breaches,” St. Pierre said. “The fact that they didn’t have my private information made me feel really good. I was no longer willing to submit it, so I felt like I was at a dead end.”
St. Pierre contacted WMUR for help. News 9 Investigates reached out to AT&T, and a spokesperson explained the process.
“We’ve spoken to the business owner,” the spokesperson said. “We agree this appears to be fraud. Per our standard procedure, we’ve asked that he file a local police report about this crime, and the charges will be removed.”
News 9 Investigates also brought the case to the attention of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.
“It’s just the latest iteration of a very common scheme,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Brandon Garod.
Garod said that while the office hasn’t seen anything specific to St. Pierre’s case before, it has seen an increase in scams and identity theft.
“This is an extreme example of a circumstance where somebody is a victim of a huge amount of fraud, but this happens all the time with any sort of identity theft,” he said.
There are ways people can protect themselves from this sort of fraud.
“You’ve just got to pay attention, and you have to be diligent,” Garod said. “Monitor your bank statements. Monitor your credit card statements. Monitor your credit check.”
Anyone who notices a fraudulent bill or charges should contact the company that sent the bill.
“If you are being charged for services or goods you didn’t purchase, the company can reverse those charges if you’re able to persuade them that this is not me who made these purchases,” Garod said. “If that doesn’t work, people should file a complaint with the attorney general’s office.”
That advice was echoed by St. Pierre, who said he was happy he took a second look at that bill.
“Sometimes you don’t open it, and you don’t pay attention,” he said. “For whatever reason, this one jumped out at me as I better pay attention to it. It’s a message for everybody. Also, I’m hoping people realize there are resources out there. You’ve just got to be persistent.”
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