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The original item was published from 12/17/2014 4:40:00 PM to 12/17/2014 4:43:36 PM.

News Flash

City of Homestead News

Posted on: December 5, 2014

[ARCHIVED] Homestead Public Services Warns of Potential Utility Phone Scam (English & Spanish)

Homestead Public Services Warns of Potential Utility Phone Scam

The City of Homestead would like to alert its residents about a scam that has been reported by Homestead Public Services customers. A supposed utilities representative calls a home or business and asks customers to make a utility payment in cash or by a prepaid card they are instructed to purchase.
Scammers, posing as representatives of the city’s utilities department, are targeting business owners and Spanish-speaking customers in particular. Perpetrators of this scam are telling customers their last bill payment was returned and that they are required to pay immediately or their services will be disconnected in 30 minutes. They often request personal information such as bank account and social security numbers, with the promise of expediting an outstanding payment. Under no circumstance does Homestead Public Services ever call its customers to request a payment over the phone. These scammers are also taking to social media and traditional mail in an attempt to dupe the public out of their money and, in the most brazen cases, have been reported as showing up at a resident’s doorstep.
If you receive a call from someone stating they represent the Homestead Public Services (water, sewer, electric, or solid waste) and they ask you to provide them payment information over the phone, we recommend that you terminate the call and contact Homestead Customer Service at (305) 224-4800. We urge all our customers to never provide their personal information to strangers or provide payment when they receive a call. If you think you may have been a victim of this or another scam, you may contact the authorities listed below:
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs: 1-800-HELP-FLA• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: 1-800-767-2825
• Federal Trade Commission: 1-877-FTC-HELP

Los Servicios Públicos de Homestead advierten sobre posible Estafa Telefónica

La Ciudad de Homestead advierte a todos sus residentes de una estafa reportada por los usuarios del Servicio Público de Homestead. Un supuesto representante de la compañía de servicios llama a casa o al trabajo y pide a los usuarios que hagan un pago en efectivo o con una tarjeta prepago que les obligan a comprar.Los estafadores, pretendiendo ser representantes del departamento de utilidades de la ciudad, tienen como objetivo principal embaucar a dueños de negocios y usuarios de habla Hispana. Estos estafadores les dicen a los usuarios que su último pago fue devuelto y que están obligados a pagar de inmediato o de lo contrario se les cancelarán los servicios en 30 minutos. Suelen pedir información personal como su número de cuenta y el número de seguridad social (Social Security), para poder procesar dicho pago.
Bajo ninguna circunstancia llamará la compañía de Servicios Públicos de Homestead a sus usuarios para cobrarles por teléfono. Estos estafadores incluso están utilizando las redes sociales y el correo tradicional, en un intento para engañar a la población y robarles el dinero, y en los casos más extremos, se reportó una visita sospechosa en la residencia de un usuario.Si usted recibe una llamada de alguien diciendo que representa a los Servicios Públicos de Homestead (agua, alcantarilla, luz o residuos sólidos, basura) y piden su información bancaria por teléfono, recomendamos colgar inmediatamente y contactar el Servicio al Cliente de Homestead al (305) 224-4800. Rogamos a nuestro usuarios no den ningún tipo de información personal a desconocidos ni ofrezcan un pago cuando reciban la llamada.
Si usted cree haber sido víctima de ésta o cualquier otra estafa, puede contactar a las siguientes autoridades:• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs: 1-800-HELP-FLA
• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: 1-800-767-2825 • Federal Trade Commission: 1-877-FTC-HELP

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