B.G. warns of utility ‘past-due’ collection scam

8/6/2014

BOWLING GREEN — Scammers purporting to be with the Bowling Green Utilities Department and FirstEnergy Corp. are targeting businesses looking to collect “past-due” bills.

Police said businesses received at least three calls from someone claiming to be with FirstEnergy. The caller says the business is past-due on its utility bill, and a technician is being sent to disconnect service unless the balance is paid immediately.

When calling the numbers back, the person answers the phone as “city of Bowling Green Disconnection,” police said. Caller ID shows the calls are coming from various numbers.

Police said the city has a formal process for past-due bills and asked that anyone who receives a similar call to contact the city’s utilities office at 419-354-6258.