The scammers trick people by calling and telling them their utility bill is past due and that their utilities will be shut off if they don’t immediately pay.
AUSTIN, Texas — City officials say Austin utility customers are reporting phone calls they received from scammers who are spoofing several City of Austin phone numbers, including 311.
City officials said in a press release Wednesday that since Jan. 1, at least 200 City of Austin utility customers reported receiving scam calls. Fourteen customers have paid nearly $13,000 to scammers.
According to the release, the scam artists continue to trick people by calling and telling them their utility bill is past due and that their utilities will be shut off if they don’t make an immediate payment.
City officials said the scammers are using a variety of tactics that include:
- Masking City of Austin phone numbers or using other numbers that come across caller ID as “COA” or “Austin City”
- Telling customers that payment systems at local grocery stores haven’t been working and they are now months behind on utility bills
- Telling customers that City of Austin payment systems haven’t been working and they are now months behind on utility bills
- Directing customers to buy pre-paid credit cards to make an…
