For Hometown News
PORT ST. LUCIE -
The city wants residents to know the safest way to pay water and sewer bills online is to only use the city's official website.
While other websites can legally use the name Port St. Lucie and may even collect money, they are not city websites. The city is aware of at least one website that collected water and sewer bill payments from city utilities customers without the knowledge of the city's utilities or finance departments.
The money residents paid was forwarded to the city to pay the customers' utility bills, however, the website is not affiliated with the city in any official way.
The city can provide no assurance to utilities customers that payments made through non-city websites will arrive at the city in a timely manner, or if the money will be paid to the city at all.
Though the city is not aware of any criminal activity related to payments through third party websites, the potential for fraud increases any time unauthorized websites handle money intended for the city.
Utilities customers are asked to use caution and make payments only through the city's official website, www.cityofpsl.com.