Local officials are urging residents to stay vigilant following a surge in fraudulent phone calls targeting Cleveland Utilities (CU) customers.

Scammers are placing high-pressure calls demanding immediate payment under the threat of shutting off utility services. In some instances, callers have even claimed that a CU representative would meet the customer in person to collect the funds.

Cleveland Utilities issued a public warning to clarify their payment protocols and help protect the community from falling victim to the scheme:

• No Field Collections: CU employees never collect payments directly in the field or at a customer’s home.

• No High-Pressure Threats: The utility provider will never call demanding instant payment under an immediate threat of service disconnection.

• Beware of Spoofing: Fraudsters are using caller ID “spoofing” technology to make incoming calls appear as if they are coming directly from CU’s official main phone line.

What to do if you’re targeted: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal, banking, or credit card information. You can verify your account status directly by calling Cleveland Utilities at 423-472-4521.