Utility scam not reported south of Burnet
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
The City of Burnet sent out a fraud alert this week on a telephone scam, one that does not, as yet, seem to have reached out into the county.
Burnet businesses have reported receiving telephone calls, claiming to be from the City of Burnet, telling them that they are past due on their utility bills and that unless they immediately pay the bill in cash their utilities will be terminated. The caller is aggressive and insists that they must make a payment immediately.
The City of Burnet sends out past due notices on the 21st of each month and will not call a citizen demanding payment over the phone.
To check the status of utility accounts, citizens can either go online to www.cityofburnet.com and select “Online Services,” where they log-in using a secure password that they create, or they can call the utility department at 512-756-6093.
“Citizens should never provide personal banking information or give money to someone they do not know,” warned the alert, a message shared by utility offices in Marble Falls and Granite Shoals.
The City of Marble Falls has had no reports of such a scam, but Finance Director Margie Cardenas urged anyone receiving such a call to report it.
Marble Falls sends out late notice bills after the 16th of the month and customers have 10 days to pay with that late notice before services are disconnected.
“We do send an automated message to individuals that have not paid three days before cutoff,” said Cardenas. “The message says the account is past due and the customer needs to make payment to the city. It does not ask for money over the phone.”
City of Marble Falls utility customers may go to the city website, www.marblefallstx.gov, go to city hall at 800 Third Street or call 830-693-3615 for assistance. That is the same number to report a suspected scam.
Granite Shoals has had no reports of improprieties either, according to Emily Flores, billing coordinator.
“We send out bills on the 25th of each month that are due by the 10th,” said Flores. “On the 11th of the month, a past due notice goes out by mail.”
Granite Shoals utility customers will find an “Online Bill Pay” link on the city website, www.graniteshoals.org. They also may pay over the phone, 830-598-2424, or in person at the counter inside city hall, 2221 North Phillips Ranch Road or in the drop box outside.
