Utilities Kingston is warning customers to beware of texts or phone calls pretending to be from Utilities Kingston or Kingston Hydro and demanding payment for utilities. This is a scam. Several customers have reported this activity.

The scammers appear to be targeting realtors or home owners who recently listed their property for sale.

Customers are reportedly receiving phone calls or texts from scammers using a variety of different numbers. Those contacted are being threatened with having their utility services disconnected if they do not make a payment. In some cases, the customer is being asked to use a QR code for payment at a local store.

If you receive a message, text or phone call from someone posing as a utility representative and threatening to disconnect your utility services, do not respond to it - contact Utilities Kingston directly at 613-546-0000, Monday to Friday, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.  

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.
• Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. This agency collects information on fraud and works closely with police to solve these crimes.
• If you become a victim of fraud through monetary loss, call Kingston Police at 613-549-4660.

Reminders:

• Utilities Kingston does not place calls from, or solicit calls to, a 1-800 or 1-888 number.
• Utilities Kingston requests overdue accounts be paid via Paymentus, its third-party credit card payment provider, or by contacting credit and collections at 613-546-1181, extension 2278. We never request payment to be made via Bitcoin or QR code.
• For customers who are at risk of a service disruption, there are standard reminders and notices mailed and hand delivered by Utilities Kingston before disruption occurs. Customers are asked to follow the instructions noted in these letters so that we can assist.