Police report utility scam

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Police are warning the public about a telephone utility scam.

Police are warning the public about a telephone utility scam.

A Hilo business reported Wednesday that it received a phone call from someone posing as a representative of the local electric company. The caller claimed the business’ electric bill was overdue and said a utility truck was down the road and the electricity would be shut off unless the bill was paid immediately.

Police caution the public not to respond to requests for information or payment that comes by telephone or through the Internet. If you think a notification from a utility company might be legitimate, confirm it by calling the published phone number in the phone book not any phone number you receive over the phone or Internet.