Homestead Public Services Warns of Potential Utility Scams
The City of Homestead would like to alert its residents about scams that have been reported by Homestead Public Services customers. A supposed utilities representative calls a home or business stating that they are a representative of HPS and is directing customers to make a past due utility payment at Walmart with a credit card or with a prepaid card or money order. The call has been reported as coming from a “cloned number” that shows on Caller ID as the HPS Customer Service number (305) 224-4800. This is not a legitimate call from HPS.
Under no circumstance does Homestead Public Services ever call its customers to request a payment over the phone or to travel to a retail store to make a payment. If you receive a call from someone stating they represent the Homestead Public Services (water, sewer, electric, or solid waste) and they ask you to provide them payment information over the phone or travel to a retail store to make a payment, we recommend that you terminate the call and contact Homestead Customer Service at (305) 224-4800. We urge all our customers to never provide their personal information to strangers or provide payment when they receive a call.
If you think you may have been a victim of this or another scam, you may contact the authorities listed below:
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs: 1-800-HELP-FLA
• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: 1-800-767-2825
• Federal Trade Commission: 1-877-FTC-HELP