A phone scam hit Sidney Friday afternoon and has city officials warning residents. City Manager Gary Person reports that businesses and residents were getting calls from someone pretending to represent Sidney and demanding delinquent utility payments be made immediately over the phone or utilities would be shut-off. Person says the scammers use a demanding, threatening and insistent tone in the calls.
The phone number that the scam is calling from is 1-866-249-1837 according to the city. Person says officials tried to call the number back and it went unanswered.
Several complaints of a similar scam in the past being made from the same number to victims in California, Oregon and Virginia.
If you have questions concerning the status of your utility bill, call the City of Sidney at 308-254-5300.