Altamont, Il – If you are currently in the altamont area, and have received odd phone calls from bill collectors regarding your electric bill you are probably in the middle of the latest scam.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) first heard of the scam going around in the area due to a phone call from the Altamont Police Department (APD).
In a published press release, ECSD stated, “A caller claiming to be with the Electric Department contacted a potential victim by phone and told them their electric bill was past due and their service would be shut off if the balance was not paid immediately.”
“Since the call was placed to the potential victim after normal business hours, they were instructed to go to the local Casey’s General Store and purchase a prepaid card to act as payment – the only payment the caller would accept.”
ECSD urged that no electric co-op or depart would ever have this type of policy.
The department added that if anyone received a call that resembles what they were told by APD, to immediately contact their local police department.
UPDATE (12:56 p.m.): In recent update, the APD confirmed one victim who received the phone call, however the said victim called Altamont Police before making any arrangements.
According to Altamont Police Chief Alan Hines, APD did make contact with the original scammer Emily (Alias), and responded to her actions with an unofficial cease and desist order to stop the scam issue.