SCAM WARNING! The City of Richland is warning utility customers about a nationwide scam that tricks people into providing personal financial information in exchange for the false promise of getting their utility bills paid by the federal government. There is no such federal program.
Through phone calls, door-to-door visits or online solicitation, scammers are asking customers for personal information, such as social security numbers. They then give victims a fraudulent bank routing number and/or account number with which to pay their bills. The routing number is fake and no payments are made to utility accounts. This is the scammers’ way of obtaining personal identity information.
For questions about your utility bill, call 942-1104, option 1.
If you have been a victim of this scam, call the Richland Police Department at 628-0333. This scam is taking place in multiple states.
Individuals are once again cautioned that legitimate businesses will never initiate contact with them and ask for a social security numbers, account information or bank routing details.
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