Utilities United Against Scams focuses on education during National Consumer Protection Week

Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), a consortium of 146 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities, is taking the week to promote awareness of the dangers customers face through impostor utility scams.

As part of National Consumer Protection Week, which runs through March 6, the organization is stressing some basics: utilities never send a single notification within an hour of a service disconnection, never ask customers to make payments with prepaid cards or cryptocurrency, or request digital payment through third-party mobile applications. It warns that such efforts have increased in the era of COVID-19, taking the form of increased calls, texts, e-mails, and even in-person efforts to scam utility customers, capitalizing on people’s fear.

“Even in the middle of a pandemic that is affecting everyone and causing economic hardship for many, we still are dealing with scammers who are preying on families and small businesses,” UUAS Executive Director Monica Martinez said. “UUAS is working directly with utility companies to help educate customers so they can be aware of the dangers of utility scams and avoid them during these trying times.”

Customers always have the option of asking their local utility or notifying law enforcement if they suspect a fraudster. However, these scammers have gotten more clever over the years. Some claim the fact that their phone numbers do not match utilities’ numbers due to telework situations or portray themselves as the utility through emails and texts. Scammers will even claim they are responding to reports of scammers, impersonating utility or government representatives.

These scammers all want money, but the reasoning changes: sometimes they threaten disconnection if immediate payment isn’t made, sometimes they desire cash for a supposed meter upgrade or installation. UUAS warns they may even claim that a previous payment did not go through.

While UUAS claims to have taken more than 10,000 toll-free numbers used by scammers out of service, more keep cropping up. Awareness, therefore, remains the most effective tool in combating such criminals.