CITY WARNS CITIZENS OF UTILITY “SCAM”

  

Brenham police are warning city residents about a scam in which the caller states the utility payment is late and asks residents to purchase PayPal cards to pay their utilities.

Public Utilities Director Lowell Ogle says an employee of Walgreens contacted the city utilities department after a customer tried to purchase a PayPal card to pay for her city utilities. The employee, who also has city utilities, was calling to see if this was a normal procedure.

Ogle says the customer was told she had to pay over $200 or her utilities would be disconnected, and was directed to purchase a PayPal card, then call a specific number back to make a payment.

Ogle says the city does not ask customers to purchase cards to pay their bills.

When Ogle called the number given to the customer, a woman answered and identified herself as representing the City of Brenham utilities. When Ogle identified himself as the director of public utilities, the woman hung up and wouldn’t answer any more calls.

Ogle thanked the Walgreen’s employee for recognizing what was happening and took the time and the effort to call the city and protect the prospective victim.

Ogle says anyone getting a phone call like this needs to call the City of Brenham Utilities office before purchasing anything.

City utility customers who have questions or concerns can call the City at 979-337-7400.

 

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One Comment

  1. Hats off to the Walgreens employee for the heads up and contacting the City abt what the person was abt to purchase to pay for the bogus utility bill charges, maybe the city will offer the Walgreens employee, like footing the bill for that’s persons next utility bill.

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