Phone Scammers Targeting Utility Customers

Out of state phone scammers are targeting Floridian utility customers as well as those in other states, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Scammers claim President Barack Obama is giving credits to help pay utility bills, officials said in a release. After making contact with a victim, the scammers ask for personal information including a social security number. The scammer then gives the victim federal reserve bank routing information. The number is phony and no payment is made. 

If you get a call or someone comes to the door, do not give out your personal information. If someone purports to be a utility company representative, ask them for identification, officials said.

Progress Energy Florida and Tampa Electric are also warning customers about phone scammers targeting medical clinics, law firms, beauty salons other small businesses. In some cases, the scam artists seem to be focusing on Asian-owned businesses, according to the utility companies.

Individual households also are being called.Here are some of the false claims the caller will try to make:

• The caller, sometimes a man and sometimes a woman, claims the customer’s account will be disconnected shortly because of an unsigned check or unpaid balance.
• He or she requests a credit card number to avoid the disconnection.  In at least two cases, customers supplied credit card numbers, which were later used illegally.

If you suspect you have become a victim of this scam, the utilities recommend you:

• Immediately call your credit-card company to cancel the card.
• Call local law enforcement to file a report.

All Progress Energy and Tampa Electric employees and contractors doing utility work are required to carry photo identification cards.

Progress Energy Florida and Tampa Electric said in a joint statement today that they do not ask customers for credit card or debit card numbers.

If you have questions, call:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 1-800-435-7352 or (850) 410-3800 from outside of Florida or visit www.800helpfla.com.

Progress Energy, 1-800-700-8744

Tampa Electric, 1-888-223-0800