Utility customers warned of phone scam

A phone scam involving utilities that has made the rounds nationally for several years has resurfaced in the Colorado Springs area.

Colorado Springs Utilities received a handful of calls from customers this weekend, reporting that someone claiming to be from the utility told them they need to pay $179 immediately for a new water meter.

The caller threatens to shut off customers’ utilities if the money isn’t paid through a prepaid credit or debit card.

The scam appears to be a new version of an ongoing crime by people who pose as utility representatives and tell customers their utility bills are overdue and utilities will be turned off without immediate payment on a prepaid card.

Colorado Springs Utilities spokeswoman Cheron Cole said the utility does not demand payments over the phone, nor does it disconnect customers during a weekend.

“It’s unclear whether anyone has actually lost money in this scam,” she said. “We just know that some customers received calls and then called to inform us.”

Cole said the scam insists on collecting prepaid cards because they are harder to trace than regular credit or debit cards.

If you receive a scam call, hang up immediately and call Springs Utilities at 448-4800 to report it.