A Scam that is Turning Out the Lights
Imagine this scenario: you answer your phone and it’s the power company on the line, telling you that they are on their way to your house to shut off your power due to an overdue bill, and in order to stop it you need to send a payment immediately by Western Union.
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Paul Murphy at Rocky Mountain Power says this scam happens all the time, all over the country. “Avoid it,” Murphy emphatically states. “Take every precaution to make sure that you don’t give them a cent.”
If you do send a payment (typically the scammers ask for a payment through Western Union), your money is gone, and you won’t be able to trace it.
Regardless of the current status of your actual bill, whether it is paid in full or genuinely overdue, no utility company is going to call and threaten you with immediate shut off. That should be an immediate tip that this is a scam.
There are procedures and policies the utility companies must follow, starting with sending written notice by mail.
If you are unable to pay, the power company will work with you to set up a payment plan, and they would not require you to wire the money when you could simply pay by phone with a credit or debit card.
They will also be able to provide you with your account number.
If you receive a threatening phone call from utility company demanding immediate payment to prevent shut off, it’s a scam, plain and simple.
