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  • Geebo 8:00 am on July 8, 2025 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: electric company, heat wave, , , ,   

    Scammers Use Heat to Fake Shutoffs 

    By Greg Collier

    As temperatures rise across the country, so do the efforts of scammers looking to exploit the summer heat. One power company in West Virginia has issued a warning after receiving reports of fraudulent calls and visits designed to intimidate or deceive residents into paying fake utility bills.

    These scams typically involve callers who use high-pressure tactics, including threats of immediate disconnection, to scare individuals into sending money. In many cases, they ask for payment through prepaid cards, gift cards, or digital methods that are difficult to trace. Some schemes go even further by offering fake deals to reduce electricity bills through solar panel installation.

    The fraudulent activity is not limited to one region. Similar scams have been reported nationwide, often targeting seniors, those whose first language is not English, and small business owners during peak hours. Scammers may impersonate utility employees over the phone or in person, but legitimate providers will never demand immediate payment or collect money at your door.

    It is also important to note that in many areas, laws or regulations prohibit utility shutoffs during extreme weather. Some states have protections in place that prevent disconnections during periods of intense heat or cold. Individuals should check with their local government or electricity provider to understand their rights and available safeguards.

    If you receive a call threatening to disconnect your power unless you pay immediately, the safest response is to hang up and contact your utility provider directly using a verified phone number. Never provide personal or financial information to unknown callers.

    Suspicious encounters should be reported to your power provider and local authorities. Awareness and verification remain your best defense against these deceptive practices.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 22, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: electric company, , , ,   

    Scams rise with temperature 

    Scams rise with temperature

    By Greg Collier

    With many areas around the country experiencing lengthy heatwaves, there’s been an increase in utility or shut-off scams. The shut-off scam has been rather popular with scammers the past couple of years, but these scams increase in frequency during the cold of winter and the height of summer. That’s because this scam relies on their victims having the fear of losing their heating or cooling during extreme weather conditions, such as the current heatwaves.

    The way the scam typically works is the scammer will call the victim posing as their local power company. The scammer will say that the victim is delinquent in their payment, and if the victim doesn’t make an immediate payment, the power will be turned off in a matter of minutes. Previously, we have seen reports of scammers demanding payment in gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and cryptocurrency. That’s because these forms of payment are largely untraceable.

    Recently, the state of North Carolina has reported an upswing in the shut-off scam. If you’ve never been to North Carolina, the state experiences brutal summers with oppressive humidity almost every year. Scammers there have been posing as Duke Energy, which is one of the largest power companies in the country. With many fearing they’ll lose their air conditioning, the scam has been able to find a number of victims. While losses to this scam are usually in the hundreds of dollars, that money could be all that victim has to feed their family or pay other bills.

    As with many scams, it only takes a little bit of knowledge to prevent yourself from being taken advantage of. In this case, it’s the fact that utility companies will not call you about a delinquent bill. Instead, you’ll receive a notice in the mail stating your account is in arrears. If the power were to be shut off, you would receive a written warning of that date as well. And as always, no legitimate business is going to ask for payment in non-traditional ways such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or apps like Venmo and Zelle.

    If you receive one of these calls, hang up and call your power company to make certain your account is in good standing. Then call your local police to let them know this scam is in your area.

     
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