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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 15, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Scams ( 1,366 ), shut off scam ( 17 ), utility scam ( 31 ), winter weather   

  Deep freeze scam chills victims 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Recently, a large part of the country has experienced extreme winter weather in some form or another. Whether it’s a major winter storm, or sub-zero temperatures, many Americans are struggling to deal with the winter extremes. With the fear of potentially losing power or heat front in the minds of many, this has been a perfect opportunity for scammers.

  One scam that becomes immediately prevalent during extreme weather emergencies is the shut-off scam. Shut-off scams typically involve fraudsters posing as representatives of a utility company, such as electricity, water, or gas providers. Typically, scammers contact individuals by phone, claiming to be from the utility company. The scammer will create a sense of urgency by stating that the individual’s utility service is about to be disconnected immediately due to an unpaid bill or some other issue. To avoid the supposed disconnection, the scammer will demand immediate payment. They may instruct the victim to pay using unconventional methods, such as prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

  It’s not just individuals who are targeted in this scam. Essential businesses also find themselves victims of shut-off scams. For example, a daycare in Texas recently lost $5000 to a shut-off scammer while worrying about the families who depend on their service.

  Scammers always want to instill a feeling of fear into their victims. This allows them to dictate the situation with a panicked victim. However, it only takes a little bit of knowledge to thwart shut-off scammers. No legitimate utility company will ever threaten termination of service within an extremely short amount of time, like 15 minutes. Legitimate utility companies typically provide reasonable time for bill payment. Be suspicious if the caller insists on immediate payment using unconventional methods.

  In some parts of the country there are winter or cold weather disconnect moratoriums, also known as “winter protection” or “cold weather rule,” which prohibit utility disconnections during specified periods, often during the winter months. These rules are designed to prevent potential health and safety hazards associated with lack of heating in extreme weather. It’s crucial to check the specific regulations and laws in your locality, as they can differ.

  If you suspect a utility shut-off scam, report it to your utility company and local law enforcement. Additionally, you can inform consumer protection agencies, like the Better Business Bureau, to help prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 28, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: contractors ( 9 ), natural disasters ( 20 ), roofing ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), winter weather   

  Hurricane scams can help prevent snow damage scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A large part of the country just went through a major winter storm. Some homes may have received major damage, as snow can be deceptively heavy and destructive. When it comes to scams related to severe or extreme weather, they tend to follow a pattern. Take roofing for example. Roofs can be damaged in both hurricanes and snowstorms. A breach in a home’s roof is not something you can just let sit while waiting for the weather to improve. A homeowner may jump at the first offer of repair without realizing the potential consequences just to get their family safe and warm again.

  For example, take the two Florida roommates who had a whole in the roof of their home following Hurricane Ian earlier this year. One of the roommates received an unsolicited offer from a man who said he could fix the roof for $32,000. The man was even supposedly licensed by the state. The roommates gave the man a check for $32,000 and thought that was that. Except, the man disappeared for four days without doing any work on the roof. When the man finally reemerged, he asked the roommates for more money. The roommates called police and the man was arrested. It turned out he had allegedly stolen the license of a legitimate contractor.

  This scam may about to approach the parts of the country hit the hardest by the storm. Whether it’s your roof, plumbing, or some other part of your home that’s been damaged, be wary of any unsolicited offers to fix your home. Always get an estimate first and never pay up front. Also make sure that the contractor is licensed in your state. Many out of state scammers will be licensed in their own state but not yours while promising you that they’re licensed.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on March 26, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Kansas ( 7 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), utility assistamce, utility scam ( 31 ), winter weather   

  Heating assistance scam hits Midwest 

  

  By Greg Collier

  This past winter, Texas had a record-breaking winter storm that left most of the state unprepared for the damage that followed. However, Texas wasn’t the only state that was affected by the storm. Most of the Midwest was also caught up in the inclement winter weather that resulted in record cold snaps across the Great Plains. While most of the Midwest is more prepared for weather like this than Texas, it still resulted in higher than normal heating bills. Many Midwest residents are just now starting to receive these bills that many found to be astronomical. Leave it to the scammers to then try to take advantage of some already vulnerable residents.

  The State of Kansas has reported that many residents of the Sunflower State have received phone calls from scammers posing as the state government offering utility assistance. While the state does have programs that can help you with unusually high utility bills, the state does not call residents at random to offer the service. While there has not been a report of anyone falling for the scam, the state believes the calls are intended to steal your identity by asking for personal and financial information. People who are desperately trying to keep the gas or electricity on could be increasingly vulnerable to this scam.

  We’d like to remind our readers that just because a scam is happening in one state it could easily happen in your state as well. Government agencies normally don’t call residents out of the blue to offer financial assistance. Anybody who requires assistance would need to contact the state first. If you receive one of these phone calls, you’re asked to report it to the state along with the phone number that appeared on your caller ID and the name used by the phony state agent.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 22, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity scam ( 34 ), contractors ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), texas ( 22 ), winter weather   

  The scams after the storm 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Even though temperatures are returning to normal in Texas, there is still a lot of clean-up that needs to be done in the Lone Star State. Power lines still need to be restored and many Texas residents experienced substantial home damage after frozen pipes burst in their homes. After any disaster, scavengers will descend upon the area looking to take advantage of those in need. The Texas winter storm is no different, and it’s not just Texas residents that have to look out for scammers.

  If you live in the affected areas of Texas, you might want to keep an eye out for shady or phony contractors who appear out of the blue offering to repair your home. If you receive unsolicited calls offering repair service or someone just shows up to your home, there’s a very good chance that they are a scammer. We’re obviously not saying that all contractors are scammers, however, there are many scammers who pose as contractors.

  If you were to accept one of these offers, you could be looking at unfinished work at best and loss of potential federal assistance funds at worst. The Texas Department of insurance recommends getting multiple bids from contractors before settling on one to repair your home. You might be tempted to go with the first offer since you want your home operating properly as soon as possible, but that could possibly lead to even more problems. In turn, that could potentially further delay your home from returning to normal.

  You should also avoid anyone who says they’ll waive your insurance deductible or asks for a large down payment or full payment up front. In many cases, these actions are illegal in Texas.

  For people living outside of Texas, you have to be wary of charity scams. If you receive a phone call, text, email, or social media message soliciting for donations, ignore them and delete them. Most scammers will use vague names of charities like ‘Storm Relief’. They’ll also try to pressure you into making a donation at that very moment. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t donate to a legitimate charity to help those in need in Texas. CNN has a list of legitimate charities assisting in Texas disaster relief. You can also go to Charity Navigator to make sure the charity you’re donating to will actually get help to where it’s needed most.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 19, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: FEMA ( 10 ), hotel scam ( 6 ), price gouging ( 8 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), texas ( 22 ), winter weather   

  More cold weather scams to be aware of 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When we think of natural disasters, we normally think of things like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. However, the current brutal winter conditions that a large part of the country are currently enduring is also a natural disaster. As such, the current climate crisis is bringing scammers out of the woodwork. We’ve already touched upon how scammers are using the power outages to steal your information or gain access to your home, but other scams are starting to emerge as well.

  In Texas, where residents have been the hardest hit by the cold, FEMA is warning residents about a scam propagating on social media. In this scam, fake social media accounts are posing as FEMA and are listing a phone number for residents to call so they can be provided with a free hotel room. As of the time of this writing, FEMA is not providing any hotel room assistance, however, they are providing other emergency services to the Lone Star State. FEMA hasn’t stated what the purpose of this scam is, but one could assume it’s designed to steal your identity, money, or both.

  While Texas is feeling the brunt of the current weather situation, other states are dealing with the record-breaking weather as well. States in The Great Plains and Midwest are also dealing with rolling blackouts, just not on the level of Texas. Like any other natural disaster, this has the potential for some retailers and lodgings to start price gouging. Most states have laws preventing vendors from excessively raising their prices during a time of crisis. If you encounter price gouging, it’s recommended that you document the incident and report it to the state’s Attorney General office. Price gouging can also happen where an emergency has not been declared, so be on the lookout for that if you’re leaving your current state for a neighboring state that may not be going through the same crisis.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 17, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: ERCOT, power grid ( 2 ), texas ( 22 ), utility scam ( 31 ), winter weather   

  Scammers take advantage of Texas power problem 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Currently, most of the country is experiencing record-breaking cold weather. Probably the state that’s been the hardest hit by the below freezing temperatures is Texas. Millions of Texas residents have been without power for days now. The Texas power gird has been overworked since it’s easier to make a home 30 degrees cooler in the heat than it is to make a home 60 degrees warmer in the freezing cold. Many Texans are desperate to have their heat and power restored. Unfortunately, this leaves them vulnerable to scammers.

  The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is better know as ERCOT. ERCOT manages the power grid that supplies electricity to 90% of Texas. The Council has issued a warning about a scam that is currently preying on Texas residents.

  According to ERCOT, scammers have taken to social media posing as ERCOT telling residents that if they give their account numbers to the phony ERCOT social media accounts, residents will have their power restored. It’s unknown why scammers want the account numbers, however, with those account numbers, scammers can cause all sorts of havoc for the ERCOT customer.

  Meanwhile, reports from Houston are saying that scammers are impersonating utility employees to gain access to customer homes. Officials there say that no power utility employee will need to enter the home but may be by your outdoor power meter. They also suggest that real employees will drive a company marked vehicle and not an unmarked personal vehicle.

  With more winter storms supposedly headed to Texas, residents need to be on the lookout for these scams. Scammers love nothing more than a time of crisis and despair to try to take money, information of both from their victims.