Lufkin Police Advise Residents to be Wary of Utility Collections Scam

According to a press release from the Lufkin Police Department, the public should be on alert of a possible utility collections phone scam. At least one Lufkin resident has received a suspicious call regarding their water service bill. 

The resident contacted the City of Lufkin Utility Collections office after they received a telephone call from an unidentified person falsely claiming to represent the City and stating that the resident’s water service bill payment was late. The caller alleged that the past-due payment would result in service disconnection if payment was not rendered immediately, over the telephone, by credit card.

According to Utility Collections staff, the City does not make phone contact with residents regarding past due accounts or demand immediate, over-the-phone credit card payments. Legitimate communications concerning a past due account are always sent via US Postal Service and allow residents a grace period for making their payments.

JB Smith, Executive Director for Crime Stoppers stated; “anyone receiving a past due account call, for any service, account, or creditor, should never provide any personal or financial information until they verify the identity and authority of the person calling”.