Othello scammer spoofing City Hall

OTHELLO — If you live in Othello, and you get a call from someone claiming that you are behind in your water bill, don’t pay. It’s most certainly a scam.

The Othello Police on Monday afternoon sent out an emergency message to Othello residents saying that someone is spoofing the City Hall number — making it show up on caller ID — and threatening residents with termination of water or electricity service if they don’t give out financial information.

“If you get a call, call us at City Hall, at 509-488-5686, and verify things,” said Bonnie Valdez, utility billing clerk for the City of Othello. “Don’t give out any financial information to people who call you unless you know who they are.”

Valdez said the warning went out after a resident reported receiving a phone call from a number that showed as “509-488-5686” in the recipient’s caller ID.

“A gentleman tried to say she was three months behind on her water bill, and when she said she had the checks to prove she wasn’t, he then said she was behind on her electricity bill,” Valdez said.

He then called from a spoofed Avista phone number and told the woman her electricity would be cut off, Valdez said. After demanding account and financial information, Valdez said the woman threatened to report the incident to the police, and the caller hung up.

“If you are concerned your account in behind, we can verify it,” Valdez said. “Don’t make any payments.”

Valdez said that when City Hall calls out, it shows up with a “331” prefix on caller ID. She would not give the full number out, however, out of concerns scammers might use it in the future.

While scammers have been at work before trying to bully people into paying over the phone, Valdez said this is the first time she’s seen the city’s number spoofed by a scam artist.

She also said that it is fairly easy to tell when a scam artist is at work.

“They are rude and rough, they threaten with a shut-off or even jail, but they are pretty easy to refute,” she said.

Again, Valdez said that if Othello residents have any concerns about their water bills, they can call the city directly at 509-488-5686. If they have any concerns about their electricity bills, they can contact Avista at 509-488-5215 or 800-227-9187.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.