BPUB Warns About Spike In Scam Calls

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) warns customers of an increase in reports of scam calls. Scammers are using a series of telephone numbers to impersonate BPUB employees to contact and threaten to disconnect customers and to collect past due payments through third-party payment methods.

In addition to voice calls, there have been reports of customers receiving unsolicited text messages prompting them to click on a link to make a payment.

Scammer’s capabilities for spoofing or disguising caller identification (ID) can make the phone number on the caller ID appear to be a local phone number. Spoofing makes it easier for scammers to deceive customers and more difficult to verify the call.

Customers should be cautious whenever speaking to a live operator through an unsolicited call by someone claiming to work for BPUB. BPUB will never seek payment via the telephone, especially not through Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, dot.card or any other prepaid card or mobile payment service. BPUB will also never request to confirm your personal information via telephone or threaten to disconnect.

Customers should follow these general tips for scams:

• Never provide or confirm personal information (Social Security number, date of birth) or financial information (banking account information, debit or credit card information) to anyone over the phone, in person or by email.
• Do not be rushed. If someone calls, visits or emails saying you have to pay your bill immediately to avoid disconnection, tell them you must verify that the person is a legitimate BPUB representative.
• Ask the person calling to provide an account number, last payment amount, date of payment and employee identification number.
• Report the scammer. Document what the scammer said, including the name used, the date and time the call was made, their caller ID number, their employee identification number, the method and amount of payment requested, and any phone number the caller requested
• Never make a utility bill payment to anyone calling you on the phone, coming to your door, texting you or emailing you.
• Do not open suspicious texts or pop-up windows, or click on links or attachments in emails; delete them.

Customers should report any unsolicited requests for payments, personal information, bank routing numbers or property access to the Brownsville Police Department at (956) 548-7000 or by visiting the nearest community police station.

For more information on scam prevention, visit www.brownsville-pub.com or call Customer Service at (956) 983-6100.