Beware of Utility Scammers

Once again, our members have recently been targeted by scammers. These criminals continue trying to find ways to steal money from not only our members but other utility customers as well. We have recently seen a new tactic by scammers who call members and tell them they have overpaid on their accounts. Scammers then request the member’s banking or credit card information so the overpayment can be deposited back into the member’s account. This is nothing more than an attempt to illegally access one’s financial accounts.

To make their attempts at scamming more believable, scammers also use a technique called “Spoofing”. Spoofing is the masking of phone numbers showing up on your caller ID display. Scammers use spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or a number from a company or government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity. The Federal Communications Commission suggests the following tips to avoid scams:

• If you answer the phone and the caller - or a recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.

• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes” or “No.”

• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.

• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s or government agency’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for payment.

• Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately. Please remember, Cookson Hills Electric will not call and ask you to make a payment with a representative during the phone call. Members can make a payment by phone through our automated bill payment system by calling 888-678-1937. If you receive a call from us and are in doubt about the legitimacy of the call, please don’t hesitate to hang up and give us a call at 800-328-2368.