Officials are warning residents and businesses about a phone scam recently reported to the Marion County Utilities department.
A caller, claiming to be from Marion County Utilities, has contacted customers from an 800 number and told them their accounts are delinquent.
The caller then instructed customers to pay a sum of money with a MoneyGram to avoid having their services turned off.
Marion County Utilities staff does not call individual customers to ask for a specific method of payment. The department sends out an automated call to remind delinquent account holders when they can expect service to be cut off and by what date the payments must be made. The automated phone message includes methods of payment, such as visiting the departments’ office, paying online or paying by phone.
Customers receiving a suspicious call should contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 352-732-8181. For information on their accounts or bills, residents should call the Marion County Utilities customer service line at 352-307-6000.