Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Utility scams often occur during extreme cold or hot weather, storms or changes in seasons, when many people are more likely to need their heat or air conditioning. Utility scammers impersonate water, electric and gas company representatives, threatening residents and business owners with deactivation of service if they don’t pay up immediately.
Utility company impostors reach out to consumers with a telephone call or knock on the door claiming to be a representative from the local water, electric or gas company. In the most common scenario, they claim your payment is overdue and the utility will shut off within the hour if your bill is not paid immediately.
Recently, a Northeast Ohio consumer told BBB that they were a victim of a utility scam. They told BBB staff that they received a “knock on my door from a guy who was dressed in work clothes” and who was driving, what appeared to be, a work truck for Dominion Gas. The man told the consumer he “was there to shut off services” if they didn’t pay right away. The man provided a number to call and instructed them to pay $400. The consumer didn’t realize they were scammed until a few months later when they called Dominion and was told they never received a $400 payment.
BBB has the following tips to avoid utility scammers:
- Don’t be pressured to pay immediately. Scammers will press for immediate payment and may try high-pressure tactics to intimidate consumers into giving them personal and banking information.
- Avoid payments with prepaid debit cards and wire transfers. If a caller specifically asks for payment by prepaid debit card or wire transfer, this is a huge warning sign. Utility companies will often accept a check or credit card.
- Never allow anyone into your home unless you have scheduled an appointment or reported a problem. Also, ask utility employees for proper identification before letting them enter your home.
- When in doubt, call customer service. If you feel pressured for immediate action by a caller, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill. This will ensure you are speaking to a real representative. Never give your personal or banking information to an unverified or unsolicited caller.
Research companies online at BBB.org. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.413.5232 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
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