MONROE - At least two Monroe motels were contacted by scammers falsely representing the Water Department, telling the hotels they were behind on water utility payments.

The callers requested credit card payments from hotel representatives on Saturday, but neither motel gave out financial information, according to a Monroe Police Department news release.

Chief of Police Fred Kelley said neither the Water Utility, or any utility for that matter, would contact by phone to ask for a credit card payment. The normal practice is to send an arrears letter first advising the customer to contact the utility.

"The motels had the presence of mind to say something is not right with this picture," Kelley said.

Kelley said scammers contacting businesses is a "new twist" that doesn't happen quite as often as targeting individuals for fraud. He said the caller made contact with the front desk in the hopes of getting an employee to disclose credit card information.

"Typically the worker-bee isn't the one holding the credit card," Kelley said.

Kelley encourages people to never give personal or financial information over the phone, unless you contacted the source first.



- Tom Holm