Shreveport Police Department
PO Box P • Shreveport, LA 71161 • 318/673-6932 • Fax: 318/673-6933
www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Aug. 14, 2002
Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer
318/673-6932
Police warn of telephone scam
Members of the Financial Crime Task Force are warning citizens about a telephone scam where the caller claims to be a utility company trying to collect past due bills.
Two similar instances have been reported to police this week. In each case, the victim reports giving their credit card number over the phone to a person claiming to be a bill collector for Swepco.
The caller gives the credit card number thinking the past due bill will be covered. However, they later find that their credit card was used to purchase items without their knowledge.
Residents should NEVER give out their credit card or other personal information over the telephone.
If a person does owe Swepco money, the customer will be notified through the mail. If the past due bill is very old, the Swepco phone center may contact the customer and give the customer options as to how to pay the bill. If they would like to pay by credit card, they are referred to an independent agency.
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