Puget Sound energy (PSE) has issued a warning about a series of scams that it has observed recently. As PSE points out on its web page, the scams include,
·
Scammers calling customers stating they
have an overpayment, but need bank information to issue a refund. PSE will not
ask for your bank information. Any refund will be credited to your account.
·
Scammers going door-to-door offering to
restore power for a fee, or asking if your power is out. This is NOT something
PSE workers would do.
·
Phone calls using “spoofing technology”
that displays Puget Sound Energy’s name and phone number when they call to
threaten disconnection of service—usually within 30 minutes—if immediate
payment is not made with a prepaid debit or money card.
·
A caller, falsely claiming to be from
Puget Sound Energy, leaves a message to call back a number, usually an
unfamiliar 1-800 or area code number.
PSE reminds everyone that it will never require
customers with delinquent accounts to use prepaid debit cards to pay their debt
and avoid disconnection. PSE will send multiple notifications about the
delinquent account by mail and phone for several weeks before disconnecting
service.
It also encourages its customers to report scammers
impersonating PSE personnel to its Customer Service number- (888) 225-5773. And
to report utility scams to,
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office
https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint#Online
Federal Trade Commission
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Snohomish County PUD is also concerned about utility
scams. While it does not any recent scam alerts, the following pop up shows up
on your screen when you open their web site:
Utility scams remain a favorite tactic by scammers to get
your money and your personal information. Be skeptical of anyone who tries to
pressure you into giving them money with a prepaid gift card, wire transfer, or
crypto currency. As suggested, call your utility to report the scam. Look up
its number on the utility’s web site or utility bill. Do not use any phone
numbers to you by the scammer.
Puget Sound Energy:
https://www.pse.com/pages/scam-alerts
Snohomish County PUD #1:
https://www.snopud.com/AboutUs/scams.ashx?p=1786
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