State attorney alerts public about scam

<p class="p1">Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds is alerting the public regarding an ongoing scam.</p><p class="p1">Edmonds said that the scam has been targeting local businesses in Union County.  </p><p class="p1">An individual claiming affiliation with “Ameren” has placed unsolicited telephone calls to Union County businesses.  </p><p class="p1">The scammer is claiming that the business being called owes a specified amount of money for unpaid electric bills.  </p><p class="p1">The scammer then tells the resident to pay by credit card over the phone to satisfy the bill or the electric will be shut off.  </p><p class="p1">The Union County state’s attorney’s office urges the public to guard against such telephone scams.</p><p class="p1">"Do not disclose sensitive financial or identification information over the telephone unless you placed the call or you are sure of the company or individual you are speaking with," Edmonds stated in a news release.</p><p class="p1">Members of the public who have questions, or want to report suspicious activity, can call the Union County state’s attorney’s office at 833-7216 or the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 833-5500.  </p><p class="p1">Information about protecting your identity is also available from the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.ftc.gov and from the Illinois attorney general at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/hotline.html or 1-866-999-5630.</p>