The Arkansas Attorney Generals office recently issued a warning saying scam artists are targeting small businesses and residential customers by altering caller IDs and claiming to be from a utility company. The caller may state the customer has unpaid utility bills and services will be shut off immediately if not paid right away.
When it comes to calls of this nature, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery has this advice.
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Customers who receive these calls should hang up and call their utility company using the phone number on their bill to verify the information. They should never make a payment or give out personal financial information to someone calling unsolicited and demanding immediate payment.
Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips to ensure payment is sent to the utility company safely and securely: add a utility payment due date on a calendar when the bill is received, drop off the payment at the utility office or an authorized payment location, mail the payment to the company directly, pay online on the utility companys website with a credit card, or call the company directly. Many companies have ways of participating in an automated draft system.
If contacted by one of these scammers, notify the utility company and to file a complaint go to
arkansasag.gov.
For more information about other common scams and consumer related issues, call the Arkansas Attorney Generals office at (800) 482-8982.
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