Scammers target Huntsville Utilities customers

MADISON – Madison County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scam that involves Huntsville Utilities customers.

Scam callers claim to be employees of Huntsville Utilities and threaten customers with disconnection of service if the victim does not immediately pay over the phone or via pre-paid Green Dot debit card at a retail location, Lieutenant Donny Shaw said.

“Callers then ask the customer to call a toll-free number to make payment. Some of the scam origin numbers are local, in some cases even showing the Huntsville Utilities main number as the number of origin,” Shaw said.

However, each attempt reported to Huntsville Utilities asks customers to call another number, sometimes out of state or toll free (1-800) numbers, to make payment. “These are scams,” Shaw said.

Huntsville Utilities advises customers to always ask for specific information from anyone claiming to represent the company, such as the caller’s name and company contact information, he said.

Customers should call Huntsville Utilities at 256-535-1200 to verify account status and to report any suspicious contact by individuals claiming to represent Huntsville Utilities. Huntsville Utilities does not use a telephone call to threaten a customer with immediate disconnection of service.