ENERGY SCAMS

By Heather Juzenas, Vice President of Marketing & Member Services

In today's digital world, energy scams are on the rise. Scammers are using more sophisticated methods to deceive unsuspecting individuals as technology advances. At The Energy Cooperative, we want to help our members avoid potential financial losses and help to protect their personal information. Here are some tips to help you avoid utility scams.

Scammers typically disguise themselves–physically or digitally–as utility employees or representatives to steal consumers’ money or personal information. A common trick is to claim a bill is past due and threaten to turn off your utility service if a payment is not made immediately. Scammers contact people in many ways- including phone calls, text messages, emails and even in-person visits. However, the digital line of attack is increasingly more common.

SPOOFING

New capabilities disguising caller ID or “spoofing” can make the phone number you see on caller ID appear to be from a trusted source or local area code. Spoofing makes it easier for scammers to deceive you because it is more difficult for you verify the call.

FAKE WEBSITES

Another recent scam uses fraudulent websites identical to a utility payment webpage — and what’s worse, these pages are often promoted on search engines to trick consumers into clicking and making a payment.

RED FLAGS

There are several red flags you can look for when identifying an energy scam. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency, like claiming your electricity or other services will be disconnected if a payment is not made immediately. Additionally, scammers may ask for unusual payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency. If someone pushes for an unusual payment method, it is likely a scam.

You have probably noticed that many digital scams, like emails or text messages, include poor grammar, spelling errors and odd email addresses. These are red flags, so when you see these sketchy forms of communication, consider it a potential scam.

What The Energy Cooperative Will (and Will Not) Do

1. We will never call you to ask for personal information. We only need it to start your service and (in this case) you call us!

2. We do not need you to provide a copy of your bill. We’ve got it!

3. We will never demand payment in prepaid debit cards.

4. Our member service representatives DO NOT take payments over the phone.

5. Our field employees DO NOT take payments.

6. We will inform you if your account is past due. You can verify this through Smarthub or by calling us at 740-344-2102.

7. Our employees carry ID badges. You can ask them for it anytime!

Please contact us if you have any doubts or suspicions regarding potential energy scams. Your collaboration is crucial in combatting utility fraud, and by notifying us about potential scams, you can actively contribute to protecting our community against fraudulent activities.