SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Authorities are warning Scottsbluff residents and businesses of an ongoing phone scam in which fraudsters are impersonating Pipe Works Plumbing LLC and demanding immediate payment.

According to the Scottsbluff Police Department, officers received a report from Pipe Works Plumbing LLC on Wednesday stating an unknown individual had hacked their phone number (308-641-0481) and was using it to call people in the area. The scammer falsely claimed the recipient owed money and demanded immediate payment, telling victims they were waiting outside their residence to collect the funds.

Pipe Works Plumbing has confirmed this is not their practice when attempting to collect payments and is actively working with their phone service provider to resolve the issue.

Caller ID spoofing—where scammers manipulate caller ID information to make it appear as though a call is coming from a legitimate source—is a common fraud tactic.

Residents are urged to ignore and hang up on suspicious calls demanding payment and to avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone. Anyone who receives such a call should report the incident to Scottsbluff Police. Those with concerns about their account with Pipe Works Plumbing are encouraged to contact the business directly using verified contact methods.