LONG BEACH, CA – In response to recent phone and internet scams being reported by Long Beach residents, the City of Long Beach is providing the following information and safety tips for residents and business owners to avoid becoming victims of fraudulent calls, text messages and email scams.
City Utility Service Scams
Long Beach Utility Services, comprised of natural gas, refuse, sewer and water services, has recently seen an increase in call volume from customers reporting fraudulent calls. These calls and text messages are coming in listed as the City’s utility call center number, 562.570.5700, and someone is posing as a City utility worker claiming that the customer’s utilities account bill is past-due and that their electricity or utility service will be terminated unless immediate payment is made.
City utility customers should be aware of the following:
- City Utility Services will never initiate a phone call or text requesting immediate payment. If you receive a call and there is a demand for payment, you should disconnect the call and report the fraudulent call to the Utility Customer Service Line at 562.570.5700.
- If the City were to contact you about your utility bill, an automated voice message is sent asking for you to call Utility Services so the matter can be resolved. The City never calls utility customers demanding immediate payment to avoid disruption to utility services and frequently works with customers to resolve bills…
