By Andy Sevilla.
A scammer posing as a city utility bill collector continues to target San Marcos residents and cheat them out of money by demanding they pay supposed overdue electric bills with gift cards.
The scammer is allegedly calling city utility customers and demanding payment, city officials said. He is said to be asking utility customers to buy gift cards and give him the card numbers.
But San Marcos police officials advise residents against doing so.
“We want residents to know this fraud is continuing d,” San Marcos Police Commander Penny Dunn said in a Feb. 6 statement. “We urge residents to not give out credit card or other financial data.”
Dunn added that residents who suspect a scam should report it to police and the city’s utility department.
The San Marcos Utility Billing office sends out bills each month with the due date 18 days before the billing date, said Utility Billing Manager Ernest Cavazos. An automated courtesy call or email is generated to all accounts with a pending balance two days before that date.
The scammer, however, has spoofed the city’s Electric Utility office number – (512) 393-8300 – and is making calls to customers that appear to be coming from the city, Dunn said.
Police continue to investigate reports of continued attempted fraud. On Feb. 5 alone, police had four calls from concerned residents.
Officials first began investigating the scam when at least five residents received calls Jan. 18 from a man purporting to represent the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and threatening them with arrest if they didn’t settle outstanding warrants by paying him with gift cards.
One person was cheated out of $1,000 before authorities intervened, according to officials. Sgt. Byron Mobley said residents were threatened with arrest unless they purchased Green Dot MoneyPak cards and gave the numbers to the suspect.
“We encourage our citizens to be wary of such bogus calls,” Mobley said in a statement. “That’s not how any court or law enforcement agency collects outstanding fines.”
Two elderly San Marcos residents were allegedly targeted and asked to pay for past-due utility bills, or else their electricity would be turned off, officials said in a Feb. 3 statement.
One 74-year-old victim purchased a MoneyPak gift card for $205.95 and gave the scammer the number. A second target called police and reported a similar demand by a man claiming to be with the San Marcos Electric Utility, officials said. That second victim did not make any payment to the caller.
“We encourage residents to be on the alert and to prevent being defrauded by calling public government offices to verify such payment requests,” Dunn said Feb. 3.
Other cases involve a resident who lost $404.40 for a non-existing traffic warrant and a separate victim who lost $7,900 by sending money on three separate occasions through Money Gram after told a family member was in jail in Florida.
Authorities said residents who suspect being scam targets should call police at (512) 753-2108. Residents can check with the San Marcos Utility Billing office for any past-due bills by calling (512) 393-8383.
San Marcos Executive Director of Public Service Tom Taggart said the city doesn’t collect utility bills by asking for gift cards. “Nor do we collect bills in person. Our policy prohibits employees from taking money in the field.”
San Marcos customers may pay their bills online, set up automatic payments online, pay by mail or pay in person at the city utility offices.
