CLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater residents are being urged to keep their guard up as city officials flag two separate deceptive schemes currently hitting local doorsteps and mailboxes.
From aggressive salespeople pushing unnecessary water tests to vague letters promising “free” grant money, authorities say the goal is often to separate homeowners from their cash.
The first warning involves private, for-profit companies targeting homes across Pinellas County. These door-to-door solicitors often offer “free” in-home water testing or demonstrations, sometimes claiming local tap water is contaminated or needs extra filtration.
City officials were quick to clarify that these businesses have zero affiliation with Clearwater Public Utilities.
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“Clearwater’s drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state safety standards,” the city stated in a recent alert, noting that the water is safe and requires no additional treatment. Some of these firms have already been reported to the Better Business Bureau for using high-pressure tactics to sell expensive, unnecessary systems. While the city is currently working on water service line verifications, officials noted that actual city staff will never ask to enter a home and will always be wearing official, identifiable uniforms.
At the same time, a second scam is landing in local mailboxes. Residents have reported receiving letters from an entity calling itself “Florida Grant Services.”
The mailers claim that massive amounts of grant funding are available for homeowners but remain intentionally vague about the details. Authorities believe these letters may be a ploy to charge residents hefty fees for “application assistance” for funds that may not exist.
The city advises anyone looking for legitimate home improvement help to bypass third-party mailers and go directly to official government sources. Trusted programs include the My Safe Florida Home initiative (mysafeflhome.com) and the Pinellas County CDBG-DR program.
If you think you’ve been targeted by a misleading sales pitch or a fraudulent letter, officials recommend filing a report with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Economic Crimes Division, in Tampa at (813) 287-7900. Residents with questions about their water quality or city services can call Clearwater Utility Customer Service directly at (727) 562-4600.
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