Prentiss County Sheriff Warns of Utility Bill Scam Calls

The Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about a utility bill scam in which callers pretend to be cable, internet or TV providers and demand immediate payment to keep service from being cut off. The sheriff’s office said scammers are active in Prentiss and surrounding counties.

In a Facebook post Monday, the department said that last week scammers targeted residents with fake “failure to appear for jury duty” calls and with bogus calls from service providers. According to the sheriff’s office, those callers told people they had not paid their cable, internet or TV programming bills and had to pay right away to avoid being disconnected.

How the utility bill scam works

Fake disconnection calls follow a familiar pattern. The caller claims to be from a company the victim may actually do business with and says an account is past due. Then the caller pushes for payment on the spot. Common warning signs include:

• A threat that service will be shut off within an hour or by the end of the day
• Demands for payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer or payment app
• Pressure to stay on the line and not hang up or call anyone else
• A caller who will not let you verify the account by calling the company yourself

The sheriff’s office urged people to stay alert during these calls. “Please be vigilant and notice anything in the conversations that would alert you that something isn’t right,” the department wrote. “Don’t be a victim!”

The department’s post also shared a “Beware of Phone Scams” graphic listing other common schemes: technical support calls, threatening calls claiming to be from the IRS, bank fraud calls, Social Security calls, lottery and charity calls, insurance, health care and debt collection calls, and extended car warranty offers.

Second scam warning in a week

Monday’s warning follows the department’s alert last week about callers posing as law enforcement and telling residents they owed money for missing jury duty. Real courts and sheriff’s offices do not call people to collect fines over the phone.

Real utility and cable companies also usually send written past-due notices before disconnecting service. They do not require payment in gift cards.

What to do if you get a call

• Hang up and call your provider using the number on your bill or the company’s official website. Do not use a number the caller gives you.
• Never give out bank account, card or Social Security numbers to someone who called you.
• Do not pay with gift cards or wire transfers.
• Report suspicious calls to the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department at (662) 728-6232.
• Talk with older relatives and neighbors, who are often targeted by these schemes.

Related: Prentiss County Sheriff Warns of Jury Duty Phone Scam

Source: Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department