City warns of fake utilities phone scam

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The city of Independence is warning about a potential phone scam making the rounds.

So far, at least four people have received calls from a person who said they worked for the city’s utility company. The person asked for personal information, including credit card information, to help pay an unpaid bill, the city said. The person told potential victims if the information was not given, their electricity would be shut off.

“The City of Independence, including its departments, does not request personal information via the telephone,” the city said.

If you receive a call, the city said to not answer any of the questions and instead should contact the Independence police at 816-325-7330.