Youngstown water bill scam prompts reminder

A 76-year-old West Side woman paid $500 in cash to a con man.

YOUNGSTOWN — Call the city water department before you hand over payment for a delinquent account to someone on your doorstep.

A 76-year-old West Side woman told police she gave $500 in cash last week to a 5-foot, 3-inch white man in his early 20s who drove up in a clean, newer looking light-colored car and threatened to shut off her water if she didn’t pay. Afterward, the woman called her son, who told her he’d already paid the bill. The account was not delinquent and her water service wasn’t in jeopardy.

Water department workers who show up to shut off your meter do not go to your door, John Casciano, water department commissioner, said Monday. The customer, though, may see the worker and approach and want to make a payment to keep the water on.

“They will take a payment, but we prefer they not take cash,” Casciano said of water workers.

Cash is taken if the customer doesn’t have a checking account or a way to get downtown to pay their bill, he said. Workers have ID and wear yellow-lime shirts with “Youngstown Water Department” on them and drive similarly marked white or yellow-lime city vehicles.

“My advice if someone comes to your door is ask for ID and give us a call to find out if we’re working in the neighborhood,” Casciano said. “If an account is behind you would get notice [in your bill] that the water could be shut off.” Water users can call (330) 742-8746.