News Southwest Rural Electric Association Volume 64 Volume 64


Utilities Are Raising Awareness About Scams February 2017


Safety, Service, Satisfaction... One Member at a Time! Number 2


by Traci Warren, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association When a scammer called Florida pet clinic operator Cindy Evers last year and demanded immediate payment on an overdue electric bill, it sounded real. “They knew my account number and gave me a figure that I owed that’s close to what I usually pay on my electric bill,” Evers said. She paid, even though, in the back of her mind, she knew her payment wasn’t late.


“I have pets under sedation, and I’m taking care of animals. I think I just panicked, thinking they were going to shut my electricity off. I did what they told me to do.”


Evers lost $900 because the call was a scam. The scam that duped Evers has been plaguing utility consumers across North America for several years, robbing them of millions. Now, utilities are fighting back.


Recently, more than 80 utilities and energy indus- try organizations from across the U.S. and Canada joined forces to recognize the first-ever North Ameri- can Utilities United Against Scams Day. Electric co-ops have increased their communica- tion efforts, sending information directly to members and encouraging local TV stations and newspapers to warn citizens about the scam, how it


works and what people should do and not do, if they are ever targeted.


Suspect a scammer? Here’s what to do if the call seems suspicious:


1. Hang up. 2. Call SWRE at 1-800-256-7973.


3. Verify the status of your SWRE account and that no one from SWRE has called you.


4. Report the scam call to the police.


DON’T FALL FOR THE CALL!


Even the wariest consumers can be duped, however. The scammers are developing new tactics every day.


The “past due” scam, similar to the one Florida customer Evers experienced, goes something like this: A customer gets a call from an 800-number that looks like a valid utility company phone number. Widely available spoofing software al-


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In the past, SWRE personnel have at times made “Bill Due” calls to notify co-op members that their service is about to be disconnected. Effective immediately, the co-op will no longer make such calls.


It is the responsibility of each account holder to ensure that his or her payment has been made and received by SWRE on or before the due date. Members may mail their payment to the co-op or


Payments may also be made at SWRE’s website (www.swre.com) or via the SWRE app for phones


SWRE will no longer make “Bill Due” calls and tablets.


SWRE payments may be made at participating banks, but members should be aware that it some - times takes up to 10 days for bank payments to be received at SWRE and credited to accounts. Bank payments that are not received by SWRE prior to the due date will result in service cut-offs. Payments will not be accepted by linemen or


The co-op will accept credit or debit card pay - ments by phone, but SWRE will not initiate those calls asking for payment.


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