LUS Warns Customers About Potential Utility Bill Scams
Surprise, Surprise, there is another scam floating around and this time it has to do with your utilities.
Lafayette Utility System (LUS) is warning customers about a potential scam involving their utility bills.
According to LUS, customers are receiving phone calls with threats to disconnect their electric and water services.
The scammers on the other end of the line are requesting immediate payment over the phone to fix the situation.
One thing to note is that the calls are coming from a 1-800 number and not a 337 area code.
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LUS would like customers to know the following:
- When a payment is past due, customers are sent friendly reminders via automated calls or mailed postcards.
- Before a bill status is discussed with a customer, account verification is ALWAYS required.
- When customers speak with a Customer Service Representative, they may be given the option to pay over the phone, but that process will NEVER be performed by a live person.
- The automated methods LUS provides for our customers to pay a bill would NEVER include methods of payment such as Paypal, Western Union, GreenDot, or a gift card.
- If you get a call, email, text, or even a visit from someone telling you to make a utility bill payment, and you believe it could be a scam, contact LUS on the phone number that appears on your bill, describe what happened, and report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement.
For more information about the LUS scam, you can visit the LUS website.