The Board of Water Supply is warning customers of a telephone scam where customers are called early in the evening with bogus collection calls.

The latest incident involved an early evening call to a Board of Water Supply customer in which the individual claimed that a balance of about $100 for the water/sewer bill must be paid immediately or else service would be shut off.

The customer asked to speak to a supervisor, who reportedly demanded credit card payment at that time and threatened service shutoff.  The customer complied with the demand and provided the caller with a credit card number.  When the customer checked the account balance the next day, there was no record of the payment.

The Board of Water Supply said that anyone receiving a similar phone call is encouraged to call the agency at 748-5030 to confirm the account balance first before making payment. 

The agency reminds customers that it does not call customers outside its business hours of Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to request for payment.  

The agency also does not call customers, demand payment, and collect payment all in the same phone call.   

If a customer is contacted for overdue payment, he or she will be asked to call 748-5030 to make credit card payment. 

The agency also reminds the public that all personnel will be properly credentialed, wearing official Board of Water Supply attire with the agency’s logo, driving  labeled vehicles, and carrying an official City and County of Honolulu badge.

Residents are encouraged to call the Honolulu Police Department at 911 if they observe any suspicious activity. The community may also call the agency at 748-5041 to file an additional report.