Water district warns customers of phone scam

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Dover & Foxcroft Water District recently learned of a phone scam targeting business customers of the Kennebec Water District in which the scammer, posing as a district employee, calls during off-hours and demands immediate credit card payment of a water bill. The person on the line says if such information is not provided then the customer’s water service will be immediately shut off.

Officials with the Dover & Foxcroft Water District want all of their customers — as well area residents served by other town’s water districts — to be aware of these incidents and to know how to respond.

“We don’t call, especially for collections, after hours,” Dover & Foxcroft Water District Superintendent Superintendent Matt Demers said. The district is open at its 48 Morton Avenue, Suite B location from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We don’t take credit cards over the phone, they have to be made in the office,” Demers said about a district over the counter policy. He said district employees also do not collect payments out in the field.

“I always call once there is a disconnect notice and the guys will give a note,” Dover & Foxcroft Water District office manager Joyce Woodard said, as the district will provide customers ample notice if they are danger of being shut off so they have a chance to come in and pay their bill. Woodard said most often she will be the one calling on behalf of the district.

“We generally try to work with people the best we can,” Demers said. “We don’t want to shut peoples’ water off, it’s really a last resort.”

Should customers receive any calls that contradict these district practices, they are urged to not give out any credit card information. Demers said, “Please let us know right away and, especially if it’s after hours, call the police directly if something sounds fishy.”

The Dover & Foxcroft Water District, which can be reached at 564-2310, has more information on the phone scam targeting Kennebec Water District business customers posted on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DFWaterDistrict. Demers said the page includes other information, such as letting the public know about upcoming digging projects.

“The services we provide are free for customers,” Demers said. He mentioned a water audit as one such service provided at no charge as district personnel can check a plumbing system for possible leaks.

“A lot of people are surprised we will do that for nothing, but they are already paying for that,” Demers said, as Dover & Foxcroft Water District customers.