Scammers demand energy payments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lisa Schiller, Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin
November 7, 2018
Scammers are taking advantage of the public by impersonating energy company representatives. Using a service disconnection threat, scammers try to convince the consumer to purchase prepaid debit cards and provide the card information to them.
The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau and We Energies are getting reports from businesses and customers that scammers are demanding energy payments. Latino consumers are being targeted by Spanish-speaking scammers.
How the scam works:
Scammers also may claim that the electric meter is not working properly and must be immediately replaced – at your expense – or the electricity will be shut off. Other scammers are using email. Watch out for emails disguised as overdue notices from your utility company. Clicking on a link or attachment will load malware on your computer.
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We Energies does not solicit payment from customers in a threatening manner. If you get a call that sounds suspicious, hang up immediately and call We Energies at 800-242-9137. If you act quickly, you may be able to request a refund if the scammer has not yet cashed the pre-paid card. MoneyPak, the company that issues the Green Dot cards, has an online tool that allows you to request a refund.