International Fraud Awareness Week is currently underway, with Wednesday, November 20, designated as the ninth annual Utility Scam Awareness Day and CWLP wants to remind the public of the prevalence of phone scams, web scams and other trouble that comes when imposters seek to pose as a representative of a utility in order to collect money or information fraudulently.
For many years, scammers have been known to impersonate utility workers in order to illegally obtain financial information or to coerce customers into making immediate payments by threatening service disconnection. This fraudulent activity is referred to as a utility impostor scam. It is crucial to recognize that, despite the recent increase in advanced digital scams, both in-person and telephone impostor scams remain prevalent and continue to be reported frequently.
What CWLP Wants You To Know:
• CWLP doesn’t handle disconnects with just minutes of notice nor just one phone call in advance. CWLP provides notice in writing warning of disconnect before a courtesy call is made. Requests for specific types of payment such as from money cards are never made. All account transactions and inquiries through our customer service at 217-789-2030 or online at myCWLP.com.
• Don't be fooled by an email address or a Caller ID that presents as a local contact. Scammers use "spoofing," and are able to pose the email or call as if from a local source to trick you into clicking on a bad web link or to answer or respond to request for payment or other information;
• Any customer who is unsure if an email or phone call is actually coming from CWLP should take the caller’s name and telephone number, hang up and then call CWLP Customer Service at 217-789-2030, email cwlp.customer@cwlp.com or go online to myCWLP.com to verify account status.
• Bill Payment or Credit Con: Scammers may provide you with a phony account routing number for you to use to pay your utility bills, receive a credit, or obtain federal assistance. You may get a payment account number in exchange for personal information that can be used for identity theft. If the number is entered during an online transaction, your bill may be paid, but no funds are paid to the utility, the account balance remains due, and your utility may charge you a returned payment fee.
• Equipment or Repair Bogus Fee: Scammers demand a separate payment to replace or install a utility-related device or meter. If a utility needs to upgrade or replace a piece of equipment, it will contact you ahead of time as a courtesy. If there is a charge related to work on equipment you might own, it will typically be included in your monthly bill, as the utility does not collect a separate payment for equipment or installation.
• Overpayment Trick: Scammers call claiming you have overpaid your utility bill, and you need to provide personal bank account information or a credit card number to facilitate a refund. Your utility may apply any overpayments you have made to your utility account, allowing the credit balance to cover any future charges, or refund any overpayment by mailing a check.
• Smishing Scam: Smishing, short for SMS phishing, is a relatively new scam that attempts to trick mobile phone users into giving scammers personal information, which can be used for identity theft via a text or SMS message. Scammers like smishing, as consumers tend to be more inclined to trust text messages. Utility companies typically do not text you unless you have signed up for a specific notification service offered by your utility.
• Contractor Con: Scammers posing as utility workers or contractors affiliated with your utility may knock on your door, claiming to be employed or hired by the utility company to reset, repair, replace, or inspect your utility meter or other utility-related device. If a utility employee or authorized contractor needs access to your home, an appointment will be scheduled in advance, and you will need to look at it.
• Home Improvement Huckster: Scammers posing as utility workers may appear unannounced at your front door offering a free energy audit, efficiency inspection, water quality or pressure testing, or some other service. These unsolicited intruders may be pitching unnecessary, expensive products or attempting to steal items from you. Unless your utility company has notified you in advance or you initiated a request for such a service, do not let them into your home or business.
• Leak Lie: Scammers posing as utility workers may knock on your door, claiming that there is a major gas or water leak in the area and that they must come inside to check the pipes or lines. They may try to collect your personal information for later identity theft or distract you by removing valuables from your home. A utility company will typically call you in advance to schedule such a service.
• Bogus Bills: Scammers send suspicious emails that appear to be a bill sent by your utility company, potentially featuring your utility’s logo and color scheme. Do not click on links or attachments in any email unless you have verified the sender. You may be directed to a scam website designed to steal your personal information, or you might install malicious software onto your computer without ever knowing it. Utility companies typically send bills by mail unless you have opted to receive your bill by email.
To protect yourself from scammers, be sure to HANG UP ON PHONE SCAMS, SHUT THE DOOR ON IMPOSTOR IN-PERSON SCAMS, and DELETE SUSPICIOUS EMAIL SCAMS!
#KnowTheSigns United to #StopScams