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Scammers targeting Austin utility customers again this holiday season

By Elizabeth Evans
Published  December 26, 2019 3:23pm CST
Consumer
FOX 7 Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - City of Austin Utilities is warning all its customers to be aware of scammers posing as city or Austin Energy employees in an attempt to take advantage and steal money from customers this holiday season.

The Utilities Customer Contact Center is reporting that on Thursday, more than 100 customers reported calls from someone claiming to be with the City of Austin or Austin Energy and demanding immediate payment. The scammers tell the customer they have a past due utility bill and demand payment within 30 minutes with a gift card or pre-paid credit card. 

The City says so far no one has fallen for the scam.

RELATED: FOX 7 Discussion: Scam targeting Austin Energy utility customers

The City says there are six things to know when it comes to these calls:

  1. The Customer Contact Center does not call residential customers with cut-off deadlines, however, commercial customers may receive a courtesy call two days prior to scheduled cut off for non-payment.
  2. The City will never ask for credit card or wire transfer information over the phone.
  3. While some customers do pay in cash, the City will never demand immediate payment in person with cash, gift card, or Bitcoin.
  4. City of Austin Utilities accepts mail-in or walk-in payments or payments online.
  5. If a City of Austin customer receives a phone call threatening to interrupt service, demand immediate payment, or request credit card or bank account information, the customer should hang up and dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 and report the incident immediately. 
  6. Anyone who has received such a call or email and is uncertain of their account status can call the Customer Contact Center at 512-494-9400.

Customers are able to make payments at the City’s two walk-in service centers on Webberville Road and Research Boulevard or the following authorized locations: most Austin H-E-B stores, ACE Cash Express, Money Box, Fiesta Mart and Randall’s.

Staff in these locations will ask for the customer’s name, address utility account number or a combination of those identifiers before accepting payment. Balance information can only be provided to an account holder with a photo ID.

Payments can also be made online.

The City offers more tips online on how to avoid utility scams.

WATCH MARCEL CLARKE'S INTERVIEW WITH LUIS RIVAS OF AUSTIN ENERGY BELOW:

FOX 7 Discussion: Scam targeting Austin Energy utility customers

Austin Energy senior public information specialist Luis Rivas joins Marcel Clarke to discuss what utility customers should look out for when avoiding those holiday scams.