Summer Utility Scams Heating Up, Consumers Be Warned
Common Types of Scams
A scammer may claim you are overdue on your electric bill and threaten to disconnect your service if you don’t pay immediately. Whether this is done in-person, by phone, text or email, the scammers want to scare you into immediate payment so you don’t have time think clearly. If this happens over the phone, simply hang up. If you’re concerned about your bill, call Wake Electric at 800.474.6300.
If the scam is by email or text, delete it before taking any action. If you’re unsure, you can always contact us by calling or use SmartHub to check the status of your account. Remember, Wake Electric will never attempt to demand immediate payment after just one notice.
Some scammers may falsely claim you have been overcharged on your bill and say they want to give a refund. It sounds easy. All you have to do is click or press a button to initiate the process. If you proceed, you will be prompted to provide banking or other personal information. Instead of money going into your bank account, the scammers can drain your account and use personal information such as a social security number for identity theft.
If this “refund” scam happens over the phone, just hang up and block the phone number to prevent future robocalls. If this scam attempt occurs via email (known as a “phishing” attempt) or by text (“smishing”), do not click any links. Instead, delete it, and if possible, block the sender. When in doubt, contact us.
Defend Yourself Against Scams
Be wary of call or texts from unknown numbers. Be suspicious of an unknown person claiming to be a utility worker who requests banking or other personal information. Never let anyone into your home that you don’t know unless you have a scheduled appointment or reported a problem. When we perform work on our members’ property or come into your home, our employees are professionals and will always identify themselves.
We want to help protect our community against utility scams, and you can help create the first line of defense. Please report any potential scams to Wake Electric at 800.474.6300 so we can spread the word to prevent others in the community from falling victim.