Bowling Green police investigate phone scam

Businesses report calls of someone seeking money for ‘‍past-due’‍ bills

8/5/2014
BLADE STAFF

BOWLING GREEN — Scammers purporting to be from First Energy and the Bowling Green Utilities Department are targeting city businesses looking to collect “past-due” bills.

Police said that at least three calls were made to businesses with the caller claiming to be a First Energy representative. The caller says the business is past-due on its electric bill and a technician was being sent out to disconnect service unless the balance was paid immediately.

When calling the numbers back, the person answers the phone as “City of Bowling Green Disconnection,” police said. Police say the city does not rely only on phone calls to warn of past-due accounts and has a more-formal process. Police ask that anyone who receives a similar call to not provide any information to the caller and to call the city‘s utilities office at 419-354-6258.

The names and numbers associated with the scam calls are : Eric smalls, 1-866-251-5398; John Gordon, 1-866-978-7766; and John Gordon, 1-866-978-7766 ext. 95.