Don't fall for fake websites

Scammers are using a fake website to trick Philadelphia water customers into providing payment information. They've created a fraudulent website with a similar domain name to the legitimate City of Philadelphia water bill payment website.

The fake website, "myphillywaterbill.com", mimics the City's official MyPhillyWaterBill payment website. It appears in regular search engine results when customers attempt to pay their Philadelphia water bills online. The fraudsters are trying to trick you into thinking you're on the real site. Stay vigilant!

What to watch out for

Be aware that "myphillywaterbill.com" is not an official website of the City of Philadelphia. The URL of our water bill payment site doesn't end in ".org", ".com", or even ".gov". Keep an eye out for these fake websites:

• myphillywaterbill.org
• myphillywaterbill.gov
• myphillywaterbill.com

Make sure you stay away from them.

The official URL of the City's MyPhillyWaterBill website is: https://www.phila.gov/waterbill. You'll also find this official URL on the back of your water bill. If you want to pay a bill, view, or manage your water account online, make sure you're using this URL. Always make sure you're accessing the right website, so you don't get scammed.

If you ever receive a suspicious call, text, email, social media message, or visit from someone claiming to be from the Department of Revenue, do not share your information. Always remember to check your account activity online or on your printed bill.

Remember:

• The Department of Revenue or the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) will never ask for your sensitive information by text, social media, or email. We will never ask for or pressure you for your confidential information. For example, we won't ask for your Social Security Number (SSN) or bank information through email and social media. We may ask for the last four digits of your SSN when verifying your identity on certain accounts, but that's only when you call us.
• You can check your account status, balance, or payment records on your printed bill or at https://www.phila.gov/waterbill.
• Don't give out your account information to anyone you can't verify. Revenue or PWD agents will already have your account information when they call or visit you.

Don't fall for spoof or phishing scams. A fraudster can fake everything from a web address to a caller ID so it appears "real". Stay cautious!

It's safe and easy to pay your water bill online at https://www.phila.gov/waterbill. The Department of Revenue uses a secure payment processing system to keep your personal and financial information safe when making a payment online or by phone.