INDIANAPOLIS - Attorney General Todd Rokita issued an alert to Hoosiers to be aware of a recent surge in telephone scams seeking to take advantage of consumers.

Rokita's office says the rise in reported complaints have shown that the phone scammers impersonate a utilities customer service representative and urge customers to make a payment by threatening to cut off power or utility services within 30 minutes of receiving the call.

The Consumer Protection Division adds that in some instances, the scammer reportedly asks for the payment to be dropped off at a designated location, which is really an attempt to steal consumers’ money or identities.