COLUMBUS—Columbia Gas of Ohio issued a warning on Wednesday to both its customers and non-customers, alerting them to a scam in which individuals are receiving fraudulent checks purportedly from the utility company.
Photos: Columbia Gas of Ohio
The fraudulent checks, which have been circulating, are not legitimate and have no association with Columbia Gas of Ohio. This fraudulent activity is an attempt to deceive individuals and obtain their personal information and funds, the company said in a press release.
Included in the scam is a letter accompanying the fraudulent check, which provides recipients with instructions on what to do upon receiving the check. In this letter, the scammer not only urges the recipient not to discard the letter but also solicits the recipient to send updates on the status of the fraudulent check to an email address associated with the scammer.
Columbia Gas of Ohio is actively working to address this issue and is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible for the fraudulent scheme.
The utility company is urging the public to exercise caution and vigilance when dealing with uncertain situations involving financial transactions. To help protect themselves from scams and fraud, Columbia Gas advises individuals to be wary of unsolicited communications and to verify the legitimacy of any correspondence claiming to be from the company.
If you suspect that you have been contacted by a scammer claiming to represent Columbia Gas of Ohio, the company recommends contacting their customer service hotline at 1-800-344-4077 for assistance and verification.