AUSTIN, Texas — As the temperatures outside go up, so do the electricity bills that follow. https://coautilities.com/wps/wcm/connect/occ/coa/home of the situation.
Austin Energy is reminding customers to not fall for these scams while paying their bills.
Scammers may carry out their schemes via email, letter or phone calls. Sometimes they even go as far as visiting your home or sending you a text message. They may threaten to disconnect your utilities if you do not pay immediately.
Scammers utilize valid-looking phone numbers, graphics, uniforms and other fraudulent identifications to con money and information out of customers.
City of Austin Utilities reminds customers that it will never ask for a credit card or wire transfer information over the phone. It will never call residential customers with an immediate cut-off deadline, nor will it demand payment in the form of bitcoin, cash, gift card or any other untraceable form of payment. If met with any of these conditions to keep your utilities running, you may be interacting with a scammer.
If you think you are being scammed, contact 3-1-1 to report the details. Make note of the phone number the scammers use to contact you. Austin Energy says it works with law enforcement to shut down scams.
If you are unsure of your bills and account status, you can check online.