City warns of scam targeting utility customers

The City of Saskatoon has issued a warning to utility customers about a scam involving phone calls appearing to come from the utility company of individual residents.

In a release, the city says the caller indicates that the resident or business has a delinquent account and owes money, otherwise their power will be shut off. The city says a number of citizens have expressed their concerns about it.

The city says these types of phone messages that demand pay or threaten to cut off your power, Robocalls, texts or emails are never sent from the City of Saskatoon or Saskatoon Light and Power.

It also says the city never requests or collects credit card or bank account information from customers over the phone or by text or email.

The release says the city typically uses application forms to collect banking information for setting up new utility accounts, direct debit bill payments or for the TIPPS program.

Citizens are reminded to never give out personal banking information or credit card numbers over the phone and to not click on suspicious links.

If  suspicious of any correspondence, the city recommends placing a call to the City of Saskatoon and speaking with a customer service representative at 306-975-2400.