PORT ANGELES — At least a half-dozen Port Angeles businesses were targeted Tuesday by an apparent phone scam in which a caller impersonating a city official demanded money for past utility bills, city officials warned.
The caller or callers threatened to cut power to the businesses within 15 to 20 minutes if a payment was not made.
“That is not us,” said Kathy Haney, Port Angeles utility services coordinator.
“We don’t do that.”
Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said one business owner used a credit card to pay a person claiming to be with the city.
“That’s obviously unfortunate,” Smith said.
“This in no fashion would match the behavior that the city utility department, or any utility, would engage in.”
Smith said the scam is similar to one that city businesses reported last year.
“The difference about this is it happened during the day,” he added.
Smith reminded the public to never give out credit card information over the phone.
“Feel free to ask them for their contact information,” Smith said.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be with the city utility department is asked to phone Port Angeles utilities at 360-457-0411 or city police at 360-452-4545.
