JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA is warning customers of utility bill payment scams.
The utility company said the scam is a nationwide operation and although tactics change, the intent remains to steal money from utility customers.
The latest scam involves phone calls to residential and commercial customers threatening service disconnection unless a payment is made by credit card.
"It could very well be because of the holidays are coming up you know people are getting a little more frenzied," JEA spokesperson Gerri Boyce said. "Just remember keep your cool, don't fall for it, hang up on them, and give us a call."
JEA officials said the most important weapon against the scam is for customers to know the status of their account.
JEA said customers at risk for disconnect are informed by JEA on their JEA bill.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said if you have caller ID, try to write down the number the scammer is calling you from, then hang up and relay that information to JEA so they can investigate.
"They'll send you an email or send you a letter or an automated phone call explaining what's going on with your account," he said. "At no time will they ever call you to pay a bill by phone or by debit or credit card."
Credit card payments are made through a third-party vendor via jea.com or JEA's phone system. Both payment methods are initiated by the customer.
JEA provides the following payment options:
- JEA accepts the following forms of payment -- major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard American Express and Discover), debit card with Visa logo, personal check, cash or cashier check
- Pay Online at www.jea.com: customers can pay their bill using a debit card, major credit card, checking or savings account. JEA's automated bill payment system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- The JEA E-Z Pay Plan: JEA's electronic payment service allows customers to authorize their bank, credit union, or savings and loan to deduct the monthly utility bill automatically from a checking or savings account.
- Pay by Phone: (904) 665-6000 customers can pay their bill using a major credit card, checking or savings account. JEA's automated bill payment system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Pay by Mail
- JEA Authorized Payment Only Locations, which includes all Winn-Dixie and Publix stores and Duval County Tax Collector offices.