City of St. Charles warns of electric utility payment scam

The city of St. Charles has recently received reports from residents and area businesses of someone claiming to be with the City of St. Charles Electric Utility who contacted them to advise their electric bill was overdue. The caller said if payment was not made immediately, power would be shut off.

Please know that this is a scam. If you receive a call demanding immediate payment or the power will be shut off, please hang up immediately and report it to the Police Department at (630) 377-4435 or police@stcharlesil.gov.

Warning signs to watch for:

1. The City of St. Charles Utility Billing division will never call and threaten to turn off electric service. If your electric bill is overdue:

a. Customers will first receive a red bill that shows the overdue amount (regular bills are blue).

b. If the account remains unpaid, a disconnection warning will be sent in the mail, which gives 10 days to pay to bring the account up to date.

c. Only after these two attempts to correct the account status have been made with no action from the customer will a call be made.

2. The city's utility billing division will never call after hours or on a weekend. We only call during our regular office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

3. The city will never demand payment over the phone. We do not accept payment over the phone.

4. Utility billing does not accept payment with Green Dot Money Pak or any money cards, gift cards or wire transfers of funds.

5. The city's caller ID only displays "City of St. Charles."

If there ever is a question regarding the status of an account, customers may contact the city's utility billing department during normal business hours at (630) 377-4426 or utilitybilling@stcharlesil.gov.

About the City of St. Charles

Friendly neighborhoods, diverse retailers, international employers, innovative schools, beautiful parks, varied cultural amenities, and unique architecture have earned St. Charles its reputation as the Pride of the Fox. Located in both DuPage and Kane counties, the City of St. Charles is 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, and has a population of approximately 33,000. Over 1,800 businesses, consisting of a balanced mix of retailers, restaurants and manufacturing facilities, employ more than 18,000 people. The City of St. Charles was named the #1 City for Families by Family Circle magazine in 2011; one of the "150 Great Places in Illinois," by the AIA Illinois; and one of the "Top 10 Towns To Live In" by West Suburban Living magazine. Visit www.stcharlesil.gov.