Columbus Utilities’ Customer Alert
Columbus Public Utilities is warning customers about a new
round of scams involving text messages that appear to be coming from the
department demanding payment but are fraudulent. Customers are advised that the city’s utility
department never demands payment by
calling, texting, or knocking on doors.
If anyone is posing as a department employee trying to collect payment
through these methods it is fraud.
If paying a bill online, Columbus Public Utilities water,
sewer, stormwater and city power customers should only pay from the secure
Customer Portal link from the home web page of https://columbus.gov/utilities
or call 800-824-2375 to pay by phone.
For a complete list of bill payment options, please visit the web site.
If a resident has made a service-related appointment with
the department, they should always request to see the city-issued
identification badge, and also check to see that the worker is in a city uniform
and driving a marked city vehicle.
Residents who have been victims of such fraud should report
it to the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-4545 or online, and if outside
Columbus to their local law enforcement agency.
Scams should also be reported to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Tipster
and the FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.
For questions about your Columbus utility bill, please call
Customer Service at 614-645-8276 or email [email protected].
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