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Police: Beware of calls about overdue utility bills

Residents are being warned of a recent scam involving unsolicited phone calls from someone claiming to be from Alliant Energy.
scam alert

Residents are being warned of a recent scam involving unsolicited phone calls regarding overdue utility bills.

Lt. Greg Allen from the Burlington Police Department said on Thursday, July 17, 2014 that over the last several days, local businesses and residents have reported fraudulent calls involving someone asking for payment from an overdue bill.

Allen explained that what happens is someone claiming to be an Alliant Energy representative calls telling the victim that they have an overdue bill. The caller then advises that the victim’s power will be shut off unless they go out and buy a pre-paid debit card. If the victim purchases a card, the fake representative then takes the card numbers over the phone and the money is then taken from the pre-paid card.

If you get an unsolicited phone call, the Iowa Attorney General advises that you do not give out your social security number, credit card numbers, or any bank account information. If you get a call from someone claiming to represent your local utility provider, you should hang up and call the number on your utility bill.

“Do not give in to a high-pressure call seeking personal information,” said Allen.

Any calls like this should be reported to your local police.

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