September 21, 2009
Baltimore officials are warning residents to beware of telephone scammers posing as city employees, claiming that water bill payments are overdue and that their water service is about to be cut off. A number of senior citizens reported the calls Friday. Public Works officials said that there have been no requests for money to be sent anywhere, but there is concern the scammers could go to a resident's home to collect. True billing issues are handled by mail, they said. Residents receiving such calls are asked to ask for a name and callback number, then call 911.

- Frank D. Roylance