Water Bill Scammers Calling County Residents

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - Scammers have reportedly been targeting Contra Costa Water District customers this week and district officials Thursday offered advice on how to spot the scams.

Several commercial customers of the district, which services about 500,000 people in the central and eastern parts of Contra Costa County, reported that scammers called them demanding immediate payments.

The calls were made past business hours and typically the caller asked for funds to be sent through wire services such as Western Union, district officials said.

In one case, a customer was told to pay $300 immediately for continued water service despite not owing the district any money.

District officials said customers should be aware that payments are never demanded through a wire service to the district.

The district would also never cut off water service for unpaid charges unless there had been multiple contacts previously made with the customer.

Anyone who suspects they are being contacted by a scammer is asked to hang up and call the district at (925) 688-8044 during normal business hours to ensure it's actually a district representative.

-Bay City News Service, image via ShutterStock