Central Maine Power Company is renewing its warnings about fraudulent schemes to collect payments from utility customers.

People claiming to represent CMP have been calling customers and demanding immediate payment. Some instruct customers to deposit cash or a money order into bogus accounts through convenience store cash transfer systems.

Others try to get customers to call a specified number and provide financial information for the payment. The caller has tried to work his deception mostly on the owners of small businesses and restaurants in the Lewiston-Auburn, Portland, and Augusta areas, but some residential customers have also reported receiving these suspicious calls.

CMP renews its alert customers about this scam and offers these tips to keep account information secure:

• CMP will not call a customer for payment if his or her account is in good standing;
• Customers who need to make an urgent payment should do so only through the CMP website, or at one of the payment agents listed on the website at www.cmpco.com.
• Customers who have any questions about a call for an overdue payment are urged to contact CMP by calling 1-800-750-4000.