HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville Utilities said it has been receiving continued reports of scam activity — phone scams and in person attempts — targeting utility customers.
As the week has progressed, the utility said the activity has increased. This is not unusual, as scam activity does often increase as we get closer to the holiday season, Huntsville Utilities said in a news release.
“Huntsville Utilities wants to remind customers that we never call and threaten imminent disconnection or demand immediate payment over the phone,” the release said.
There are also reports of customers being told their account has been suspended, or that someone has applied for services at their address. In both cases, the caller requests payment to correct the situation, the news release said. In at least one instance, a caller was told the Huntsville Utilities lobby was closed due to COVID and that they could only rectify the situation over the phone.
Huntsville Utilities have listed these red flags to look for when a caller:
- threatens imminent disconnection
- demands immediate payment to avoid disconnection
- asks you to pay using a payment app (Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, PayPal, etc.)
- asks you to meet a representative at an off-site location with cash
- asks you to pay using pre-paid gift cards
- asks for personal information (bank account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security number, etc.)
“If anyone receives calls listed above, they should hang up immediately,” the release said. “If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact local law enforcement and your financial institutions immediately.”
Huntsville Utilities customers can check their account status by calling the Customer Information Center at 256-535-1200 or through the My Account section of the Huntsville Utilities website – www.hsvutil.org.
Information about utility scams can be found here – www.hsvutil.org/utilityscams.
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