Local businesses have notified the City of New Bern that they’ve been getting calls from people posing as the “City of New Bern Utilities/Electric Department.”
The callers say the business owes money for an overdue utility bill and they must pay it immediately over the phone or the caller will disconnect service.
“HIS IS A SCAM! THIS IS *NOT* THE CITY OF NEW BERN!,” the city said in a news release.
“These scammers are trying to steal your credit card and personal information over the phone. We will NEVER call you demanding payment or asking for your personal information.”
If you have a question about your utility bill, call 252-639-2750. The office is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions and help with payment needs.
“Be vigilant against these scammers,” the city advised. “Hang up on them and never give your personal information over the phone.”
By the way, city offices are closed today (Good Friday) but will be open Monday, and your electric bill is also due Monday if you have not yet paid it.
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Utilities in New Bern are no slouches in the scam department. My latest bill had a $14 late charge. I checked my bank and confirmed that the previous month's payment was actually 1 day early. So I called City of New Bern. They didn't "see" (their word) my payment until one day late, so they hit me with a late fee. No one cared when Wells Fargo paid the bill -- all that mattered was when someone with City of New Bern "saw" it.
As a retired attorney, I am seriously considering a lawsuit to recover my $14, plus costs and expenses.