February 7, 2018

CONTACT: Lindsey Wiles

Communications Manager

lwiles@mariettaga.gov

770.794.5509

MARIETTA - During the week of February 5, 2018, the City of Marietta/Marietta Power and Water was notified of fraudulent activity related to the City’s utility payment system.

The City discovered that some nefarious individuals had called businesses within our community pretending to be Marietta Power and Water. They used a fake recording from the City’s phone system and prompted customers to call the fraudulent system in order to pay their Utility Bill to avoid having their service discontinued. 

The perpetrators are very aggressive with their demands and insist that customers meet with them or call into the fraudulent phone system to pay immediately. The City of Marietta/Marietta Power and Water’s IT and Customer Care Division is continuing to work closely with our customers and law enforcement to stop this activity and prosecute the perpetrators.

Additionally, the City has received reports of scammers calling and threatening to disconnect service if a customer does not purchase a pre-paid card and either meet the individuals or call back with the card information. The City of Marietta and Marietta Power and Water will NEVER ask a customer to purchase a pre-paid debit card to pay for service. Scammers are now able to use fake caller ID numbers to target consumers, thereby they convince our customers they are receiving a call from Marietta Power and Water. Please do not assume the information on your caller ID is always accurate and please do not hesitate to hang up the phone and call Marietta Power and Water back directly at 770.794.5150.

Please note that the official Marietta BLW phone system for payments can only be reached by dialing 770.794.5150.