Two more Abbeville businesses get ‘did not pay’ electricity bill phone scam

Recent phone scammers are possibly targeting businesses in Abbeville run by owners of foreign descent.
One Chinese restaurant and one hotel have reported to Abbeville Police that their businesses have received calls from 800-numbers claiming to be a third-party collection for the City of Abbeville.
Another hotel owner, who did not call the police, told City Hall that he received several calls from a similar number. The person on the line is telling the business that it owes the city a certain amount and if the bill is not paid immediately, the business’ electricity will be shut off.
“We feel like the scammers are targeting what they believe to be ethnically owned businesses,” Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza said. “I have instructed our billing manager to call all of the Chinese or Vietnamese type restaurants, as well as the hotels.
“One of the hotel owners said he has received calls three times.”
One business paid more than $1,000 after receiving a call from 800-341-6445. The other business that reported the call to the police, this time from 866-978-6581, did not pay the undisclosed amount. Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said his department is investigating the incidents.
“The Abbeville Police Department is currently investigating numerous complaints of an ongoing scam that someone representing themselves as the City of Abbeville,” Hardy said, “is contacting citizens and businesses and advising them that they are behind on their electrical bill payments. This person, or makeshift company, is advising the citizens and businesses that if they do not make a payment to them, which is usually within a short period of time, their electricity will be cut off.
“The City of Abbeville does not contract with a third party for the collection of utilities.”
The alleged scammers are utilizing pre-paid cards to obtain the payment.
“The person or company has demanded the citizens purchase a Green-Dot card and send the payments to them,” Hardy said.
Green-Dot cards are pre-paid credit cards that can be purchased at various stores. The cards are not tied or backed by a checking account. The purchaser can put a one-time amount on the card and then give the card number to the person over the phone.
“By no means should anyone purchase any type of card and pay over the phone or the internet to someone representing themselves as the City of Abbeville,” Hardy said.
The Chief said if any citizen or business has or receives a call from someone about terminating their utilities, they should call the Abbeville Police Department at 337-893-2511.