Williamson County's Sheriff is warning people to be aware of a phone scam that's been reported to his office.
Bennie Vick says Ameren Illinois representatives alerted his office to the scam, saying people in Marion and Carbondale have been getting phone calls that claim to be from the utility. The caller tells victims they are behind in their payments to Ameren, and that their power will be shut off unless immediate payment is made.
The scammer directs victims to use a "green dot" pre-paid debit card to make the payment. Ameren says the scam has targeted small businesses as well as residents. The company says it does NOT demand immediate payments, and if you get a call like this you should hang up. Sheriff Vick says a reputable company would give you a name and number to call back and verify the information. He says you should never give out personal or financial information to an untrusted source.
