This scam must take the cake.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is warning consumers that some rocket scientists are calling Iowans and reporting they are from the power company.
What do you think happens next in mid-July? That’s right. The poor consumer is told their electric service will be cut off if payment is made by phone.
That would be a terrific service for late paying customers if the story were true. Unfortunately, the scam is simply the latest wrinkle in the “Scare Them ‘Til They Give You Money” contests.
“Our utilities never operate like that,” Miller said. “Don’t be buffaloed into giving out your credit card account number, bank account, Social Security number, or other personal information. This scam appears to be hitting all over Iowa.”
Miller has also asked consumers to immediately contest the charges if they have given this information to a company and said that his office and utility companies want to know when the call comes, even if a consumer did not divulge any information.
Anyone receiving a call should contact their utility company and the state’s Iowa consumer regulatory authorities at 888-777-4590 (281-5926 if calling from Des Moines). You can also send an email to the Iowa Attorney’s General office.
Posted under Privacy
This post was written by George Bounacos on July 17, 2008
