Cleco warns of scam phone calls in Iberia, St. Mary

Cleco is warning customers in Iberia and St. Mary parishes to be aware of fraudulent callers who demand payment for a utility bill and threaten to disconnect power if the balance is not paid immediately.
Fraudulent callers are contacting customers from telephone number 337-284-0812, misrepresenting themselves as a Cleco employee and demanding payment for past due bills. The scammer demands that the customer go to the local Walmart and use the express service to pay the bill immediately.
“The callers are using telephone lines that seem legitimate with an automated recording that claims to be a bill collection office,” said Shirley Turner, general manager of customer experience management for Cleco. “They are even providing customers with a false employee number to try and make the calls seem valid.”
Cleco reminds everyone of four important points when paying their bills:
—A Cleco representative will not call customers demanding payment.
—Cleco will not instruct customers to use a specific payment method.
—Cleco will not dictate where to pay a bill.
—Customers should call the established Cleco customer service number at 1-800-622-6537 or visit www.cleco.com and login to MyAccount to verify balances.
If a customer receives a suspicious call, hang up and notify proper authorities. To speak with a Cleco Customer Service Representative, call 1-800-622-6537.