Mayor Rory Rowland | City of Independence
Mayor Rory Rowland | City of Independence
The holiday season has brought an increase in scam attempts targeting City of Independence utilities customers. Since November 26, individuals have reported receiving fraudulent calls appearing to be from the City's Utilities Department.
These scams utilize caller ID spoofing, a tactic where the scammer manipulates the caller ID to display a legitimate name and number, disguising the true origin of the call. Customers describe receiving calls that seem to originate from an official City phone number. Impersonators posing as employees request account information to access customer fees and balances before asking for payment under false pretenses, sometimes even offering a "discount."
In response to these scams, which are being carried out through calls, texts, emails, and door-to-door visits, the City of Independence advises residents to remain cautious. Key indicators of a utility scam include:
- Urgency: Scammers may pressure you to pay immediately or risk disconnection.
- Payment Demands: The City will never call demanding payment.
- Verification: If contacted for payment, hang up and call the customer service line at 816-325-7930.
After reporting such incidents to customer service, victims are encouraged to report them to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
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