Pennsylvania PUC Issues Urgent Warning About Sophisticated Phone Scam Targeting Utility Customers
TL;DR
Identify scam calls posing as utility companies to safeguard against financial loss and maintain control over energy provider choices.
Scammers spoof PUC number to deceive customers into paying fake cancellation fee to avoid service termination. Stay vigilant and contact utility directly for verification.
By raising awareness about scam calls, PUC protects consumers from financial harm, ensuring a safer and more trustworthy utility service experience for all.
Be cautious of unsolicited calls claiming utility changes to prevent falling victim to spoofing scams, empowering individuals to safeguard their personal and financial information.
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The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has issued an urgent warning to utility customers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting residents across the state. Fraudsters are using advanced phone spoofing technology to make their calls appear to originate from the PUC, tricking unsuspecting customers into believing they are receiving an official communication. According to the PUC, more than 70 complaints were received in a single day regarding these deceptive calls. The scammers claim that a request has been made to switch energy suppliers and demand an immediate cancellation fee. They threaten service termination if the recipient does not pay promptly.
The scam involves callers presenting a fabricated scenario where customers must pay to prevent an unauthorized utility supplier switch. However, the PUC emphasized that it never makes direct calls demanding payment, confirming supplier switches, or threatening service interruption. To protect themselves, customers are advised to follow several key prevention strategies. These include refusing to provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, immediately ending suspicious calls, and verifying account information directly with their utility provider using the contact number printed on their billing statement.
The PUC has already reported the incident to law enforcement and is collaborating with utilities statewide to raise awareness about the scam. Customers who receive suspicious calls are encouraged to report them to their utility company and the PUC's Bureau of Consumer Services through official channels. UGI Utilities, which serves over 760,000 customers in Pennsylvania, is supporting the PUC's efforts to alert residents about this fraudulent activity. The ongoing scam underscores the importance of remaining vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected communications about utility services.
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