KAYSVILLE — If someone calls your residence and claims you must pay your delinquent Kaysville City Power bill using a credit card immediately or lose service by day’s end – report it to police.

And don’t share credit card information with that person, who Kaysville Police say has called at least two people from a phone number that is blocked or private, so not shown on telephone caller IDs.

“We’ve had only one actual victim that we’re aware of,” said Capt. Paul R. Miya of the Kaysville Police Department. “One individual gave her credit card information (over the phone) and since has cancelled her account.”

But not before a charge of about $450 had been racked up on that card, he said.

“If residents want to make a payment with credit information over the phone, they call us,” said Kaysville City Recorder Linda Ross. “We’ll never call them for payment.”

“The power department does not call people like that,” Miya emphasized.

Residents will receive a letter notifying them if they are behind in payments or there is a related problem, he said.

“We don’t threaten to cut off power. Usually they have to be quite a bit behind before we threaten to cut off power, and the city won’t cut it off (totally), especially in the winter,” the captain said.

After “a number of contacts” with no payment on the customer’s part, the city generally places a power limiter, “but they receive plenty of notice before they do that.

“You could run the refrigerator, furnace, other critical appliances, not a lot else,” he said.

No such reports of a billing scam have been received by either Bountiful Light & Power or the Bountiful Police Department. The city also imposes a limiter” under similar circumstances, said Matt Youngs, BL&P safety and customer service coordinator.

He said similar procedures are commonly in use by all utilities.

Miya said he wished people wold pay attention to news reports in print and electronic media warning them against scammers.

“Don’t respond to e-mails if you don’t know who they are. Don’t give any of your information out unless you’re positive who you are dealing with,” he advised.

If there is any question, log into your account online or contact the bank/credit card company by phone.

“Don’t wait for them (credit card company) to call you,” Miya emphasized.

If you are contacted by a scammer about your power bill or any other scammer, call Kaysville Police immediately at 801-546-1131.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com