FLORENCE-Scam Alert: Several reports today of a person(s) ‘spoofing’ city phone numbers and saying that they are the Utilities Dept and demanding payments. THIS IS NOT THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF FLORENCE. If you receive a call demanding payment over the phone, do not give out any personal info and contact FPD at 256-768-2728. Investigators with the Florence Police Department are currently working to identify the origin of the calls.
From The Florence Utilities concerning the scam:
“A new phone scam involving Florence Utilities customers has been targeting businesses in our service area. Customers have reported receiving the phone calls from a City of Florence phone exchange number (256) 760-6300.
These pretend callers, using legit caller ID numbers, are posing as Florence Utilities employees and are asking for immediate payment and threatening to cut off electric service. Four local restaurants have reported the bogus calls today. Florence Utilities does not request immediate payment threatening service disconnection via phone calls, and advises customers to report calls to Florence Utilities Customer Service at 256-760-6512.
We ask our customers to be alert to these phone scams that demand immediate payment and threaten service disconnection. If a Florence Utilities customer receives a suspicious call requesting personal information or immediate payment, he should take the following steps:
1. Do not give personal or payment information over the phone.
2. Contact Florence Utilities Customer Service at 256-760-6512 immediately to report the call.
The Police Department is investigating this scam.”
