Scam artists posing as customer service representatives from the Corona Department of Utilities are contacting residents, demanding payments via an online app and threatening to shut off victims’ water within 20 minutes if no money is sent, something the agency would never do, officials warned Friday.
“The city of Corona reaches out to customers via mail and door tags before shutting off a customer’s water,” according to a city statement. “We will never threaten a customer with a 20-minute deadline.”
Officials said that the perpetrators of the scam are using a 1-800 number, stating that utilities personnel are standing by to enforce a shutdown order if the resident doesn’t submit an immediate payment using the Zelle app.
“The (Department of Utilities) does not currently have the option to pay using Zelle,” the city stated.
It is unknown how many people have been targeted by the scammers.
Officials said the city has a registered number from which all calls originate — 1-951-736-2400. That number will appear in all calls placed by the Department of Utilities.
Anyone who has been victimized by the scam was urged to contact the police department at 951-736-2330.
Anyone with questions or concerns was also encouraged to contact the Department of Utilities’ customer care office at 951-736-2321.