Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities is warning customers about telephone scammers who are identifying themselves as working with or on behalf of the utility.

NPU has received reports from numerous customers who have been contacted by individuals posing as legitimate vendors trying to collect on alleged past-due bills and threatening to shut off service unless a credit card payment is made through a third-party provider within an hour, NPU spokesman Chris Riley said.

NPU urges customers to keep in mind that only customers who have been contacted by NPU through the mail about a past-due account will be contacted by phone. No NPU vendor has authorization or ability to shut off power to a customer.

NPU also does not require a customer to sign up for a third-party payment provider in order to pay their bills, Riley said. Customers should never provide their account number or any other personal information to an unknown party.

To report suspected fraudulent activity, NPU customers should contact the Norwich Police Department at (860) 886.5561, ext. 6. For any bill-related questions, customers should contact NPU at (860) 887-2555.