AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin is warning the public of a phone scam, where customers have reported receiving a phone call from someone who claims to be from the City of Austin Utilities or Austin Energy and demands payment of their utility bill within the hour, or else it will be shut off.
City officials said the calls have come from a 1-866 number and the scammer asks for a credit card, gift card or bank account information over the phone to complete a payment to avoid their utilities being shut off.
The City of Austin released this information regarding its policies about utility bills:
- The City of Austin Utilities Customer Contact Center does not call customers with cut-off deadlines.
- We will never ask for credit card or wire transfer information over the phone.
- City of Austin Utilities accepts mail-in or walk-in payments or payments online
- If a City of Austin customer receives a phone call threatening to interrupt service, demand immediate payment, or request credit card or bank account information, hang up and dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 and report the incident immediately.
Officials said customers can make payments at the city’s two walk-in service centers or the following authorized locations: most Austin Austin H-E-B stores, ACE Cash Express, Money Box, Fiesta Mart and Randall’s.
Here are some City of Austin walk-in service centers, as well:
- Utility Service Center (east branch) Rosewood-Zaragosa Center
- 2800 Webberville Road, Suite 110, Austin, Texas 78702
- Utility Customer Service Center (north branch)
- 8716 Research Blvd, Suite 115, Austin, Texas 78758 (near Ohlen Road and Highway 183)
City of Austin utility customers who wish to make a utility bill payment by credit card can do so online at www.coautilities.com or by calling 800-959-7063, which connects the customer to the City of Austin’s automated utilities payment service (Bill Matrix) to make a payment via credit or debit card or electronic check. City of Austin customer service representatives may give customers this web address or phone number, but will not ask for a customer’s credit card number to accept payment, the city said.
Officials said anyone who has received such a call and is uncertain of his or her account status can call the City of Austin Utilities Customer Contact Center at 512-494-9400.
Click here for more information on how to avoid phone scams.
