The City of Fairhope Utilities Department and the Fairhope Police Department have received an increase in complaint calls concerning fraudulent activity and attempted scams using “Caller ID Spoofing.”

Traditional Caller ID allows the recipient of a phone call to identify the phone number of the person or business calling them, and depending on available options, may display the name of the person or business associated with that phone number.  However, a “Spoofed Caller ID” allows a person placing a call to change the displayed phone number and name that appears on the recipient’s Caller ID screen.

Recently, numerous citizens in Fairhope have reported receiving fraudulent calls using “Spoofed Caller ID” in which the call appears to have originated from entities such as the City of Fairhope, the Fairhope Police Department, or various power/utility companies based in Alabama.  The caller identifies himself as an employee of that entity and attempts to gather personal information, or attempts to obtain credit card information in order to allow the payment of an outstanding debt or late utility payment.

Examples of reported activity include:          

• A Fairhope resident was the victim of fraud, and had unknowingly authorized a credit card payment to a non-existent debt collection company.  When the victim realized their error, they stopped payment.  Shortly thereafter, they received a phone call in which their Caller ID screen identified the caller as the Fairhope Police Department, including this agency’s real phone number.  The caller, a “foreign sounding” male, tried to coerce the victim into re-sending the payment.
• Fairhope residents have received calls in which their Caller ID screen shows that the caller is the City of Fairhope or another legitimate utility service provider.  The callers tell the resident that their utility account has a past due balance, and to avoid utility cut-off, they must make a credit card payment over the phone.

Residents are cautioned to never reveal personal information to any caller.  The City of Fairhope does not call utility customers to obtain payments.  If a utility account is past-due, a representative from the utility department will physically go to that address and inform the customer or leave a notice informing the customer of the account status, or the City will mail a notice.

The Fairhope Police Department will not telephone any citizens in an attempt to enforce bill payment.

If anyone receives a call, regardless of the information displayed on the Caller ID screen, and the caller claims to represent a company and solicits personal information or credit card information, the recipient should hang up. 

If you are concerned about the status of an account, call the company by using the phone number listed on your bill or the number provided at the company’s web site.

More information, including the ability to file a complaint, is available at the Federal Communications Commission web site: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov