A Sudden Call to Pay Your Utility Bill? Here’s Why You Should Hang Up Imagine this: your phone rings. The caller claims to be from your local utility commission or power company. They say your payment is overdue, your service will be disconnected within the hour, and you must pay immediately—usually via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Their tone is urgent, even threatening. ...
Don’t Let a Fake Call Turn Your Lights Out: How to Spot a Utility Scam Imagine this: your phone rings. The caller ID might even show a local number or the name of your electric or gas company. A stern voice informs you that your payment is overdue, your service will be disconnected within the hour, and you must pay immediately—usually with a prepaid debit card, gift card, or a peer-to-peer payment app. ...
That Urgent Call About Your Bill? It’s Likely a Scam If your phone rings and the caller ID shows a familiar name—maybe your electric company or water utility—you might naturally feel inclined to answer. The person on the line sounds official, even urgent. They say your service will be disconnected within the hour unless you make an immediate payment. Your heart races. What do you do? ...
The Latest Utility Scam: What to Do When “The Power Company” Calls for Payment If your phone rings and the caller ID shows your local utility company, your first instinct might be to pick up. But be careful: that sense of urgency is exactly what scammers are banking on. Recently, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued a clear reminder that serves as a warning for everyone: legitimate utility companies do not make unsolicited calls to demand immediate payment. This isn’t a new scam, but it’s a persistent and convincing one that continues to trap people. ...
Utility Imposters Are Calling: How to Spot the Scam and Protect Yourself A recent alert from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) serves as a critical reminder for everyone: official agencies do not make unsolicited calls to demand immediate payment. Scammers, however, do it all the time. This isn’t just a Pennsylvania issue—it’s a widespread imposter scam where fraudsters pretend to be from your water, power, or gas company, using fear and urgency to steal your money. ...
A Real Warning About Fake Utility Calls If your phone rings and someone claims to be from the “utility commission” demanding immediate payment to avoid your power being shut off, hang up. It’s a scam. ...
When a Call About Your Utility Bill Isn’t What It Seems If your phone rings with someone claiming to be from the utilities commission, demanding immediate payment to avoid your power being shut off, you’re not talking to a government official. You’re talking to a scammer. ...