by DAVID HAMILTON

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Natchez Water Works is urging caution after customers Thursday received calls from individuals falsely identifying themselves as Water Works employees.

Department superintendent Tony Moon said the imposters are attempting to scam customers by threatening to shut off residents’ water supply.

“They’re saying ‘We are going to cut your water off if you don’t pay your bill immediately,’” Moon said.

Three people reported these incidents to the department Thursday — including one woman who lives in Ferriday and, obviously, is not a customer, Moon said.

“They don’t have our customer’s information … They are just randomly dialing 6-0-1 numbers under the assumption that they are Water Works customers,” Moon said.

Moon — who said Thursday marked his first time experiencing this type of situation — said customers even had the Water Works phone number show up on caller ID when receiving these phony calls.

“Like most businesses today … we don’t do business over the phone,” Moon said. “It’s primarily through mail or face-to-face.”

Moon said he immediately contacted the police after receiving the reports. Though he said the customers who reported the calls did not hand over any information to the apparent scam artists, Moon said the exact number of customers who have received these fake calls is unknown.

The department urges anyone who doubts the legitimacy of a call to hang up and call Natchez Water Works at 601-445-5521.