Warning: beware of callers using a 1-800 phone number and demanding immediate payment for utilities. A telephone scam is now being reported by several Utilities Kingston customers, and by other utilities across Ontario. In the most recent case reported today, those contacted have been asked by the scammers to purchase a retailer gift card or make a credit card payment.

If you receive a suspicious call:

• Do not provide any personal information including Utilities Kingston or credit card account numbers.
• Collect any information possible about the caller.
• Contact Utilities Kingston customer service at 613-546-0000 during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., to report the incident.

Customers are reportedly receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to be from their “utility company”. Those contacted are being threatened with having their utility services disconnected if they do not immediately provide payment. The fraudulent caller may instruct the person to send a money order in the amount they claim is outstanding. In some cases, those contacted have been asked by the scammers to send a wire transfer or purchase a retailer gift card.

Utilities Kingston customer service does not place calls from an outbound 1-800 number. The company’s standard procedure for lengthy overdue accounts is to provide multiple notices prior to disconnection. Utilities Kingston always hand-delivers a Final Notice to the service address prior to any disconnection. For lengthy overdue accounts, Utilities Kingston requests payments be made at City Hall, or via Paymentus, its third-party credit card payment provider.