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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 and asks customers to make a utility payment over the phone by credit card or with a prepaid card or money order they are instructed to purchase. The call has, in some cases, been reported as coming from a “cloned number” that shows the call back number on Caller ID as Homestead Public Services. 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. 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, 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
For more information please contact City of Homestead Assistant to the City Manager Zackery Good at 305-224-4448 or at zgood@cityofhomestead.com
