POST FALLS - When Stacie Ward was informed on Wednesday by phone that her business was behind on its Avista Utilities account, she was stunned.

That was news to her, after all.

The male caller, who claimed to be an Avista representative, said they would send staff to the business shortly to disconnect service if she didn't immediately pay on the account.

"I hung up, wondered if I'd forgotten to pay, then realized (it was a scam)," the owner of Stacie's Cakes in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene said.

A short time later, she said two 6-foot males on foot in blue shirts with Avista badges and dark pants approached the business.

"They had a bag, so it appears they were indeed coming to disconnect our service," Ward said.

She said the men were spooked - perhaps from someone in the business using the phone - and they took off running in the alley.

"They never did come inside," she said.

Ward said the phone call came from (801) 850-6225. Police say there have been scam complaints nationwide regarding the number.

Debbie Simock, Avista spokeswoman, said the calls are a scam. She said there have been multiple recent complaints in the Post Falls and Moscow areas.

"They seem to be targeting small businesses," Simock said. "These calls aren't anything that are coming from Avista."

She said when customers are behind on their accounts, they will receive a letter.

Seeking answers, The Press three times called the number from which Ward had received the phone call. The first time the number was out of service.

A male identifying himself as Jack Roberts answered the second time. He claimed he works in a call center in Pocatello, even though the 801 area code is in Utah. When it was said that there have been multiple complaints of scams from the phone number, the male said to call Avista. When asked what call center he works for, the man hung up.

When the number was called a third time, rap music was playing in the background and the male identified himself as Steve Corbolingo. The Press was put on hold and unable to speak with the male.

Simock said, if residents receive such a call, they should not share personal information. Instead, they should hang up and call Avista at (800) 227-9187 with questions or concerns. She said residents should not call the caller back because they won't get factual information.

In the past two days, Post Falls Police have responded to four such reports of fraud, Capt. Greg McLean said. He said in most cases, Avista "reps" don't show up to collect money.