The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning residents to be aware of potential utility scams.
Although utility scams can happen any time of the year, they are more likely to occur during extreme weather events.
The scammers take advantage of weather events, such as the current high heat temperatures the region is experiencing when people are more likely to need their air conditioning.
The scammers will impersonate water, electric, and gas company employees.
The scammer will threaten residents and business owners with termination of services if they don't pay immediately.
The BBB says that scammers will make contact by a phone call, text, or a knock on the door.
The scammer will claim to be a utility employee from a local water, electric or gas company.
The scam is generally a claim that payment is past due and termination of services will occur within the hour if the outstanding bill is not paid immediately.
The BBB says that scammers use several tactics to prey on residential and commercial customers.
They say one of the most common scams is where the scammer knocks on the door representing themselves as an employee of the local utility company.
The scammer wears a credible uniform claiming that the meter is not working properly and needs to be replaced immediately at the resident or business owner's expense.
Another tactic of this same scam is to claim they need access to the home or business to make necessary repairs or to do an energy audit, with the intent being to steal items or access personal identity information.
The scammers may also claim they will provide energy discounts with the intent of taking money, personal information or gaining the account details needed to switch the account to another utility provider without any consent (an illegal scam known as "slamming").
One victim shared their experience with a utility scam on BBB Scam Tracker.
The scammer pretended to be a customer service rep, telling the victim that their electric service was being shut off within one hour.
The scammer then told the victim if they didn't go to the utility company directly as well as pay the scammer $232 it would happen immediately.
Another victim said a lady claiming to be from her utility company told her that her power would be shut off in 45 minutes and that she was to call the billing department with a number provided.
The victim's husband called the number and was asked for a credit card.
Not feeling right about giving his information. He disconnected and called the utility company directly and they said it was a scam.
The BBB wants to remind customers that requests for prepaid debit cards, gift cards, digital wallet apps and wire transfers are a huge red flag warning sign.
They say another typical red flag is pressure for personal information and immediate payment.
The BBB says to protect yourself from being the victim of a scam take the following precautions f you feel pressured for immediate action:
- Hang-up and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
- Never allow anyone into your home or business unless you have a scheduled appointment or have reported a problem directly.
If you have received a call like this or believe you may be the victim of a scam, please call the local police for your area and report the scam to BBB Scam Tracker.
