Clearwater residents are being hit with a wave of sketchy messages claiming they are behind on gas bills and must immediately wire money to avoid shutoff. The fraudsters tell people to send funds to specific accounts and sometimes tack on toll-free 800 or 888 numbers, which the city says it does not use. Officials are urging anyone who gets a surprise invoice or call to double-check it by contacting Clearwater Utility Customer Service at 727-562-4600 before sharing any payment or personal information.
City issues alert
On Wednesday, the City of Clearwater put out a public warning making it clear the messages are bogus and "are not associated with the city or its utility partners," according to the City of Clearwater. The alert includes a sample of one of the fake invoices and emphasizes that Clearwater, CGS Energy, Clearwater Utility Customer Service and Clearwater Public Utilities do not ask customers to make payments through 800 or 888 phone numbers.
What officials are telling customers
Officials told reporters that anyone with questions about a bill should call Clearwater Utility Customer Service at 727-562-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with in-person help available in the lobby from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as reported by Tampa Bay 28. They are also telling residents not to give out payment or personal details if something feels off and to confirm any supposed charges using the phone number printed on their bill.
Why this matters
Utility scams have become a stubborn problem across the region. Consumer-protection groups and local utilities have been running awareness campaigns after thousands of attempted scams were reported in recent years, with typical losses in the hundreds of dollars, according to Tampa Electric. Scammers often time their schemes around billing cycles, severe weather or other stressful moments when people are more likely to pay quickly just to make the problem go away.
How to protect yourself
Experts say you should never wire money or buy prepaid cards to satisfy a sudden demand for payment. Instead, hang up and call the utility using the number on your bill or on the city’s website, the Federal Trade Commission advises. If you think you have been targeted or have already sent money, contact your bank, report it to the FTC and notify local law enforcement. Clearwater customers with account questions can also reach the utility using the number listed in the city’s scam notice.
