AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Amarillo Police Department warned community members to be cautious of a reported scam related to false power outage information, and advised residents to check for power outages through their provider’s official websites or apps.
According to the department, the scam includes a community member getting a text that might appear to be from utility providers about power outages related to temperature conditions, with a link to an “outage map.”
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“It’s actually a smishing scam designed to get you to click — which could install malware or send you to a fake site that steals your personal info,” said the department.
Police advised community members to:
- Not click links in unexpected text messages;
- Check power outage information through utility providers’ official websites or apps; and
- Be aware of messages that create urgency or fear, which is a red flag.
Community members who receive suspicious messages are encouraged to delete them and help spread awareness. Those who believe they may have been targeted or victimized by a scam were advised to report it to the Amarillo Police Department by calling 806-378-3038 or by submitting a report online here…