The BBB has issued a nationwide warning about a new scam claiming that President Obama will pay your utility bills through a new federal program.
Customers of Duke Energy and Energy United have reported the calls.
How the scam works:
Consumers have been contacted through telephone calls, fliers, social media and text messages with claims that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
To receive the money, scammers claim they need the consumer’s Social Security and bank routing numbers.
In return, customers are given a fraudulent bank routing number to pay their utility bills through the automated telephone payment service.
The payment service initially accepts the payment but then declines it within a few days when the bank account number is discovered to be fake.
Occasionally, Duke Energy may call customers to discuss an account. If they do, they will provide information that only the customer and Duke Energy would know in order to validate that the call is legitimate. If, after receiving the information, you are uncomfortable providing personal information by phone, or if you believe the call is a scam, hang up and call the company directly at 1-800-777-9898.
EnergyUnited members who are contacted for personal information in regard to electric utility bills should immediately contact EnergyUnited customer service at 800-522-3793.
The BBB has these tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:
• Never provide your Social Security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone who calls you, regardless of whom they claim to be representing.
• If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
• Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. Also, ask utility employees for proper identification.
• Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in person to get into your home.