Expect More Scam Calls Posing as Your Utility Company, Says Consumer Protection

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Expect more scammers calling claiming to be your utility company.

Look out for an increase in utility scam calls. State Consumer Protection's Michelle Reinen says scammers like to rotate the tricks they use to get your money. "That utility company is not going to call you, threaten disconnection, tell you that if you don't pay right now over the phone, there's a truck in route and they're going to do an immediate disconnection."

Reinen says utilities won't threaten you over the phone to pay your bill immediately. "There's a whole process that your utility company goes through in order to do a legitimate disconnection. Plus, if you did fall behind, contact your utility company using the legitimate contact information on your bill."

Reinen says your utility company has to follow procedures to disconnect your power, and cannot require payment immediately over the phone. "They're not going to ask you to pay by a gift card or wire money or ask for cash at that moment in time just to get you right with that bill should you legitimately be behind."

Reinen says scammers are rotating their calls back to utility scams because the winter disconnection moratorium is over.

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