Huge winter storms in parts of the country have left hundreds of thousands of households without power. After a big storm, utility and other scammers will be busily at work.
Scammers know severe weather may have shut off your electricity, heat, or water. One thing they try is sending messages that look like they’re from your utility company with links designed to steal your personal information.
These messages may say they’ll restore your services faster if you pay or give them your information. But, as is always true with scammers, they won’t do anything but take your money.
Here are tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to spot and avoid weather-related utility scams:
- Don’t respond to unexpected messages. If you get an unexpected call, text, or email claiming to be from your utility company, don’t click on the link. Don’t respond to the message. Instead, contact the utility company using the number on your bill or the company’s website. Verify whether the message came from them.
- Never pay anyone who demands payment by money transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Only scammers say you can only pay one of those ways. Your utility company won’t ask you to pay any of those ways. Neither will any other legitimate business.
- Be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up or repairs after a weather emergency. Unlicensed contractors and scammers often appear after big storms or natural disasters. If they want cash up front, walk away. And if they won’t give you copies of their license, insurance, or a contract in writing, that’s a red flag.
- Read about other weather-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies. Then share the information with friends and family to help them avoid losing money, too.
Remember, an alert, informed consumer is the best protection against fraud.
