AUSTIN, Texas -- As 2018 ends and a new year begins, City of Austin Utilities wants to warn customers about scammers claiming to be with the City or with Austin Energy.

• Four commercial customers have reported bring told they owed money
• Phone numbers used by the scammers were 1-800-915-7670, 1-800-955-9060 and 512-474-6670
• City of Austin will never ask for credit card or wire transfer information over the phone
 
At least four commercial customers have reported receiving a call or email from someone stating that they owed money and that their utilities would be cut off if a payment was not made. In each case, the customers believed that their accounts were up-to-date, and none of the customers made payments to the scammers.

One customer called the 1-800 number given by the scammers. When the customer kept asking questions, they were transferred to an “escalated level of billing service” where they were told there was a mix-up and to disregard. Phone numbers used by the scammers were 1-800-915-7670, 1-800-955-9060 and 512-474-6670. Be cautious of someone calling you about your utility account, especially if using one of these numbers.

Six things to know about your City of Austin utility bill:

  1. The City of Austin Utilities Customer Contact Center does not call customers with cut-off deadlines.
  2. Officials will never ask for credit card or wire transfer information over the phone.
  3. The city does not ask for payment with cash, gift card or Bitcoin.
  4. City of Austin Utilities accepts mail-in or walk-in payments or payments online.
  5. Anyone that receives a phone call threatening to interrupt service, demand immediate payment, or request credit card or bank account information, hang up and dial 311 or 512-974-2000 and report the incident immediately. 
  6. Anyone who has received such a call or email and is uncertain of his or her account status can call the City of Austin Utilities Customer Contact Center at 512-494-9400.

Austin Energy manages the City of Austin utility billing for water, electricity and other services. For more information on how to avoid utility scams, visit the Austin Energy website.