Phone scammers target Burnet customers with utility bill ruse
FROM STAFF REPORTS
BURNET — Investigators are warning residents to beware of phone scammers attempting to trick residents by threatening “termination” if they refuse to pay past-due utility bills.
Officials say the caller “is very aggressive and insists that they make a payment immediately,” according to a statement by the city of Burnet.
“The city of Burnet will never contact you by phone and demand you pay any bill whatsoever,” Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson said. “It’s lazy on the suspect’s side. They’re asking the citizen to put money on a card or wire money to them.
“When a citizen does that, it’s extremely hard to stop it once they send it,” he added. “It’s an easy way for the scammer to get fast cash.”
To reduce the chances of losing money or becoming a victim of identity theft, residents should avoid providing banking information or other personal details.
“You hang up. Just don’t listen to what they’re saying if they’re asking you to put money on a card or Western Union them cash,” he said. “You can notify the Burnet Police Department to give us a heads-up, but whatever you do, don’t pay the money.”
To check on the status of a bill, citizens can call the city utility department at (512) 756-6093 or go to www.cityofburnet.com and submit a user name and password for security.
Call the Burnet Police Department at (512) 756-6404 to offer information.
editor@thepicayune.com