A Portsmouth resident became suspicious after two men in neon yellow shirts showed up asking to see his gas bill—and he may have had good reason to question them.
Police were called to Kendall Avenue after a man reported two males wearing safety-style vests and badges had come to the home claiming they worked for Columbia Gas.
According to the caller, the men said they were trying to help lower his gas bill and asked to see a copy of it.
The resident declined.
Later, he contacted Columbia Gas of Ohio directly and was reportedly told the company does not send workers door-to-door asking to inspect customer bills that way.
That’s when the man became concerned the pair may have had other motives.
He provided police with photos of the men, but officers were unable to locate them.
⚠️ WHAT ARE “AGGREGATION” OR THIRD-PARTY ENERGY SALES COMPANIES?
Sometimes these people are not scammers—but third-party energy suppliers or aggregation companies trying to sign customers up for alternative gas or electric plans.
The problem?
Some salespeople allegedly misrepresent themselves or create confusion by:
- Wearing safety vests
- Flashing generic-looking badges
- Implying they work for the utility company
- Saying they “need” to see your bill
- Creating urgency or confusion
Seeing your bill can give them access to account information needed to switch suppliers.
👀 HOW TO TELL IF SOMEONE IS LEGIT
If someone comes to your door asking about utilities:
- Ask for full company identification
- Don’t rely on the vest or badge alone
- Call the utility company directly using the number on your bill
- Never feel pressured to hand over your account information
- Don’t let strangers inside your home
- Take photos if something feels off
🚪 YOU CAN ALWAYS SAY NO
Even if the person is technically legitimate, you are under no obligation to:
- Show your bill
- Sign paperwork
- Discuss your account
- Open the door
💡 THE BIGGEST RED FLAG
The biggest warning sign is when someone tries to make you believe they are from the utility company itself when they’re actually a third-party salesperson.
In this case, the resident trusted his instincts, checked with the gas company directly, and contacted police when something didn’t feel right.