More than 1,000 consumers have signed CUB’s petition asking legislators to help fight the utility imposter scam.
In this awful scam, con artists knock on your door or call you, pretending to be from the regulated utility and demanding quick payment of a bill to avoid a service shut-off. It’s been successful in swindling innocent consumers of hundreds of dollars of their own money.
It’s been so successful that recently CUB and several utilities held a news conference to warn consumers of the con game.
As the weather continues to warm up, the issue is likely to worsen, so consumers are asking the General Assembly to enact better consumer protections and to warn their constituents:
- Utility workers will never go door-to-door or call you seeking personal financial information. So never give out Social Security, account or any other financial information to people who contact you and claim to be from the utility.
- Never make payment for services to anyone coming to the door.
- If in doubt about the person at the door, ask for identification. Utility employees carry a company photo ID.
- Don’t ever be afraid to call your utility. It can verify if an employee has called or been dispatched to your home. It also can update you on your account status.
Please, sign our petition and help combat this terrible scam.
