Island police and Puget Sound Energy are warning Whidbey residents to beware of phone scammers who are targeting utility customers.

Detective Ed Wallace confirmed that phone scams have occurred, though he was not positive if any claiming to be from Puget Sound Energy had happened in Island County.

“We’ve gotten a couple reports of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) scam,” Wallace said.

Puget Sound Energy sent out a notice Nov. 25 warning Whidbey customers of the fraudulent calls. People claiming to be from the utility threaten to shut off electricity or phone service and demand immediate payment. Such threats should be ignored, as customers are notified several times via mail of delinquent bills before any disruption of service, according to the news release.

“For us, the big reminder is PSE doesn’t do business that way, the IRS doesn’t do business that way, the sheriff’s office doesn’t do business that way,” Wallace said.

“PSE won’t call and say, ‘Give us money.’ The IRS won’t call and say, ‘Give us money,’” Wallace added.

Should one get a suspicious phone call claiming to be from any agency demanding payment, Wallace said to hang up, call the agency’s phone number and speak to them about it. Also, call the sheriff’s office so law enforcement can track the scam calls.

“Hang up, don’t take the bait,” Wallace said. “Don’t call them back. Don’t provide them any information.”

“They’re not just going to take the money they say they’re going to take, they’re going to take all of it,” he added.

Wallace said the department would have a difficult time catching the culprits, who could be overseas and reroute the calls. He was unaware of any reports of people losing money in Island County to this scam.