Utility Billing Text Scam Alert

A City of St. Helens utility billing customer alerted us to a suspicious text they received on July 9, 2025, which appeared to come from the City of St. Helens and said that the customer may qualify for payment due to water contaminants. The text included a link asking the recipient to click the link to learn more.

If you receive a text like this, do not click the link. This message is not from the City.

Scam texts like this are becoming increasingly common. We would like to remind you of the following safety tips:

• Don’t believe your caller ID. Caller ID can be made to look like a phone call or text message is coming from a company, government agency, or person that you are familiar with. If you receive an unexpected call or text demanding immediate payment, personal information, or with an offer that sounds too good to be true, hang up the phone and do not reply to the text! You can look up the accurate phone number of the company or agency that has supposedly contacted you by searching for their website online or finding a printed statement that was previously mailed to you. You can then call the company or government agency using the phone number you looked up to verify if the text message or phone call you received is legitimate.
• An unexpected phone call or text message demanding money or offering you something that sounds too good to be true is a red flag
• NEVER give personal information over the phone without first verifying the legitimacy of the call
• If you suspect a scam but aren’t sure what to do, you can always call non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521 and ask to speak with an officer.

Published July 9, 2025 at 3:54 p.m.