Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Local consumers have contacted Better Business Bureau® Serving Greater Cleveland (BBB®) with concerns about emails and letters they received from an organization named Ohio Electricity Litigation. These consumers contacted BBB because they feared they were part of a scam. A Garfield Heights resident told BBB staff, “I received a credit card in the mail. I was wondering if it is a scam. It is from Ohio Electricity Litigation (and) appears to be a debit card. I don’t understand the mailing or how much this card is worth. I feel like it could be a scam.”
However, BBB advises consumers to take another look at the mailings because many, if not all, may be legitimate.
While utility scams are common in the months leading to winter, the recent correspondence from Ohio Electricity Litigation is not. Ohio Electricity Litigation, a part of A.B. Data, Ltd based out of Milwaukee, was named the Settlement Administrator for a recent class action lawsuit against FirstEnergy and its spinoff company, Energy Harbor. Additionally, Ohio Electricity Litigation has partnered with another company named Tremendous, to distribute emails to consumers potentially affected by the court ruling.
Consumers who were customers of FirstEnergy subsidiaries Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric, or Toledo Edison between January 1, 2020, and June 22, 2022, would generally be eligible for the settlement. The average settlement is about $15. Distribution of funds is taking the form of physical checks, debit cards, and digital payments. Consumers may also be receiving emails from“[email protected]” regarding their portion of claims. Consumers who wish to pursue litigation on their own behalf would have had to opt out of the settlement distribution last year by October 5, 2022. BBB advises consumers to contact Ohio Electricity Litigation directly with any concerns or questions they may have. Ohio Electricity Litigation can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling its toll-free number at 1‐877‐888‐9895. They also have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document on their website.
These recent mailings from Ohio Electricity Litigation and Tremendous are a rare example of a legitimate utility-related solicitation. However, more often than not, consumers will find themselves encountering a scam. BBB Serving Greater Cleveland is providing the following tips for consumers in the future.
- Be Skeptical – If you receive a robocall, text message, or phone call from a utility company, be skeptical. Don’t verify personal information until you have verified the identity of the caller. Many utility companies have a policy not to ask for consumers’ social security or bank account numbers over the phone.
- Call Back – When in doubt, hang up and call utility companies back on numbers listed on official correspondence or websites.
Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
