Scam calls and messages target Americans more than anyone else
A new global survey of more than 10,000 adults finds Americans receive fraudulent messages nearly twice as often as people in other countries.
Unbranded – Lifestyle
- Scammers pretending to be from a utility company threaten to turn off your heat or electricity within a few hours if you don’t pay your bill.
- Unauthorized contractors and scammers have been known to show up on your doorstep after major storms.
The seemingly endless arctic explosion of misery is apparently just a ray of sunshine for scammers.
So it’s important to once again remind you to strengthen your core, sprinkle in plenty of skepticism along the way, and stay strong to avoid falling into these well-crafted traps.
Depending on the weather, whether it’s the bitter cold of winter, the scorching heat of summer, or thunderstorms somewhere in between, scammers can threaten to shut down utilities. Maybe it’s electricity, heat, or water.
Scammers typically send text messages, phone calls, or emails pretending to be from the utility company. If you don’t pay, they often threaten to turn off your heating in cold temperatures. Or they may ask for money to fix the problem.
Don’t pay money to scammers even if the power goes out
In a Jan. 29 warning, the Federal Trade Commission warned that scammers may even offer to restore power more quickly after a power outage if you pay your bill now or hand over important personal information.
After major storms, utility companies and other scammers are not far behind, the FTC warned.
One of the most important steps you can take when dealing with any scam, whether it’s a utility bill scam, Internal Revenue Service scam, romance scam, or cryptocurrency scam, is to take a step back and talk to someone before handing over your money or financial information.
“Talk about what’s going on,” said Annette Washington, vice president and community manager for Chase Bank in Detroit. He focuses on raising awareness about financial health and how to avoid fraud and fraud.
She recommends reaching out to friends and relatives and asking them, “Hey, I got a call like this. What do you think?”
Washington is based at the Chase branch at Seven Mile Road and Winthrop Street in northwest Detroit and regularly holds fraud and fraud prevention workshops in Detroit.
Washington insists communication is key. She said Chase Bank speaks with both customers and non-customers in its branches and offers guidance if someone is concerned they are about to be scammed or have already been scammed.
Be careful when paying strangers to shovel snow for you
When facing cold weather or heavy snow, some people risk giving out their credit or debit card numbers to strangers who offer to shovel snow, she said. Or maybe you just give a personal check to someone you don’t know very well.
There is a risk of handing over important personal information to fraudsters. Personal checks include your bank account number and bank routing number. This information could be used in identity theft schemes or check laundering. This information allows criminals to use chemicals to rewrite large checks to themselves or their accomplices.
Before handing over a check, credit or debit card, you should first make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company, Washington said.
Big clues that you’re talking to a scammer: Scammers will try to rush you, confuse you, and bully you into acting quickly.
Don’t pay with gift cards, Bitcoin, or money transfer methods
Scammers may also ask for payment in strange ways. They may ask you to put money into a gift card, tell you to pay with a wire transfer, or ask for cryptocurrency, which will be sent to a nearby Bitcoin ATM. These are all ways criminals can steal your money and avoid getting caught.
Best bet: Don’t respond to unexpected messages like this right away. Don’t click on the link. Do not have phone conversations. Do not call anyone back.
Instead, look for the phone number on your bill and call the utility directly to find out if the utility is actually contacting you for any reason.
Take your time and do additional research before panicking
Don’t trust it, just check it.
Unfortunately, you can’t always trust customer service numbers for utilities, businesses, or even airlines that you find online.
As we’ve warned you before, scammers know how to plant fake customer service numbers online for well-known major airlines, banks, insurance companies, cable companies, utilities, online retailers, and more.
Joel Kruczek, senior communications strategist at DTE Energy in Detroit, said it’s also not safe to simply trust caller ID because scammers know how to spoof phone numbers for legitimate utilities, businesses and government agencies like the IRS.
“When someone calls and says their crew is going to shut down their service unless they get paid right away, that should set off alarm bells,” Kruczek said. “The more aggressive the caller, the more skeptical the customer should be.”
He also noted that if the person on the other end of the phone asks you to put money into a prepaid debit card or gift card, that’s a clear sign of a scam. DTE Energy does not require any specific payment method.
Another clue: DTE Energy doesn’t ask customers to provide their account numbers.
“To protect our customers’ personal information, we will ask you to verify your account information, including your billing zip code and the last four digits of your Social Security number, before discussing account details,” he said.
DTE also said that if a customer defaults on a payment, it will mail a warning notice and provide steps to restore the account to good standing and continue service.
Consumers Energy says on its website that safety must be a top priority. According to information from ConsumersEnergy.com/scams, “If you feel pressured to let someone into your home, close and lock the door and call 911.”
The utility notes that someone pretending to be from your utility company may try to break into your home or business by demanding to see your bill or claiming to be looking for a gas leak. Consumers Energy also says the utility will only send you emails and texts about your bill and account if you’ve signed up for alerts.
Another important tip: If someone shows up, you should proceed very carefully, according to the FTC’s warning, which promises to clean or repair immediately after a weather emergency. “Unauthorized contractors and scammers often emerge after major storms and natural disasters,” the FTC said.
The FTC warns that scammers often claim they don’t need a license to do this work. Or they might promise you a big discount if you sign up now. Or, if a weather emergency results in an insurance claim, you may be asked to sign an insurance check.
Scammers may also encourage you to borrow money from a lender they know. Or they claim they can qualify for relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that they need to pay an additional fee to help them through the process.
According to the FTC’s warning, “If they want your cash upfront, walk away.” “And if they don’t give you a copy of your license, insurance or contract in writing, that’s a red flag.”
It’s not just the low temperatures. Scammers are also pretty cold.
Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompol: stompor@freepress.com. follow himr X @tompor.
