Full Notification

The Des Moines Water Works is advising customers about a nationwide utility bill scam that has reached the Des Moines metro area.

Des Moines Water Works does not ask or require social security numbers from customers. If anyone asks for this information on behalf of Des Moines Water Works, do not provide it.

If you think you have provided Des Moines Water Works with an incorrect bank routing number, please contact a Des Moines Water Works customer service representative at (515) 283-8700.

The scam claims President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills. Customers are asked to provide their social security numbers to apply for the program. The scammers then give customers a phony bank routing number. Customers are told to provide the routing number to pay their utility bills or to receive a credit on their utility bills. If the routing number is entered during an online transaction, it may appear that the customer’s bill has been paid (or that credit has been applied), but no government funds are applied to the customer’s account, and the balance remains due. According to reports, the scammers are also using e-mail, text messages, and social media to reach customers.

Des Moines Water Works has recently seen an increase in rejected e-check payments with improper bank routing/account number, as many as 20 in one day. When contacted, customers confirmed that they provided their social security number in exchange for a special bank account number to pay their water bill.

Full and complete article can be found on their site: http://www.dmww.com/about-us/announcements/utility-bill-scam-warning.aspx