montgomery county residents are being warned of a sophisticated phone scam targeting utility payments, with officials confirming over fifty reported incidents since the start of the new year.
Authorities in montgomery county have issued a public alert following a surge in fraudulent calls where scammers impersonate local power company representatives. According to a press release from the Office of Consumer Protection, the scammers demand immediate payment for allegedly overdue bills, threatening service disconnection within one hour if victims do not comply.
The report, released Tuesday, details that the callers use spoofed caller ID information to display the legitimate customer service number of the utility provider. Residents in at least four municipalities, including Rockville and Silver Spring, have reported losses totaling more than twelve thousand dollars. One victim, an elderly woman in Bethesda, paid over three thousand dollars using a prepaid debit card after being told her electricity would be shut off that evening.
Officials confirm that the scam bypasses traditional security measures by instructing victims to purchase reloadable gift cards and provide the card numbers over the phone. The montgomery county police department is actively investigating the source of the calls, which appear to originate from an overseas call center. A public information officer stated that legitimate utility companies will never demand immediate payment using prepaid cards or threaten same-day disconnection.
The Office of Consumer Protection urges residents who receive such calls to hang up immediately and contact their utility company directly using the number on their monthly bill. Anyone who has provided payment information is advised to contact their financial institution and file a report with law enforcement. The montgomery county alert serves as a critical reminder for residents to verify all unexpected financial requests through official channels.