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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

BBB Tip of the Week: Cable, utility company scams

Erin T. Dodge

Con artists pretend to be from cable companies and utilities providers of electricity, water and gas, in order to steal from consumers.

During severe weather conditions that knock out services, con artists have been known to go door-to-door impersonating utility workers. They ask for cash payment to restore services, approaching people when they are most vulnerable.

In another scam, a caller pretending to be from the cable company offers a special “loyalty rewards” deal for six months, saving you a considerable amount off your bill. However, they require up-front payment for all six months. And they don’t take credit cards, only prepaid debit cards. Of course, prepaid debit cards are untraceable like cash, making them desirable for scammers.

Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to avoid utility scams of all types:

Don’t pay cash to anyone appearing at your residence from a utility company, no matter how convincing they seem.

Don’t let anyone in your home without an appointment you have scheduled with the utility company. Con artists make claims about emergency checks on appliances, thermostats, alarm systems, gas lines, electrical wiring, natural gas pipes and so on as a way to gain access. If they are insistent, call the company in question at a phone number you know to be legitimate, not one the person on your doorstep gives you.

If you are offered a special deal from an unsolicited caller, don’t feel pressured to pay on the spot. Instead hang up and call the customer service number on your utility bill to see if the deal is real.

If an unsolicited caller asks for a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, this is a red flag of a scam.

Consider it a scam if you receive an email threatening to shut off services unless you call the number or click the link to provide your account information. Instead only call the number or visit the website provided on your utility bill to check it out.

If you are concerned about an interruption in services, call the utility company directly and they may work out a payment plan and help you keep your services on.

If you’ve been contacted by a fake utility worker, file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov and Washington State Attorney General’s Office at www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint, and report it to BBB at www.bbb.org or by calling (509) 455-4200.