WARNING: Utility bill scam affecting San Marcos

The calls started coming in to residents of San Marcos first thing Wednesday morning. The voice on the other end of the phone reportedly demands immediate payment on a utility bill.

Billing manager Ernest Cavazos says this scam has happened before.

“Yes it recurs, it has happened probably about two times during the past year, it will come and as we identify and deter it, it seems to go away but then it comes back,” said Cavazos.

San Marcos sends out a single utility bill for services like electricity, water and sewer, as well as for garbage. The department will not make phone calls demanding payment.

The real message for customers according to Cavazos is simple. “That if they are receiving calls telling them to pay the utility bill on the phone or or to go out and purchase a card and call us back that would not be from the City of San Marcos staff.”

Cavazos went on to say that utility will sometimes make calls to customers. However, those calls are recorded messages and are courtesy call, not collection calls.

Officials have not been able to identify where the calls are coming from. Those who made a payment after receiving a bogus call are urged to contact the San Marcos Police Department.