These call call me arguing I had two month on We Energies with no payment. We Energies web site is warning about this kind of SCAM.
How the scam works
Caller says he or she is from the We Energies legal or collections department and may even provide a fake employee ID number. Some scammers have software to spoof our company name on your phone’s caller ID and may use a recording of our greeting to sound legitimate.
Caller claims you are behind on bill payment or have a malfunctioning meter that may cause your house to catch fire. Scammers also may claim that your meter is running fast or slow and that you must pay for installation of a new one, adding that the cost is rebated after installation.
Caller tells you to go to a nearby store, often recommending Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, SuperAmerica or Speedway to buy a pre-paid Visa debit card (sometimes referred to as a Green Dot card or MoneyPak card).
Caller tells you the exact amount for which to purchase the card, often hundreds of dollars. Scammers make the request seem urgent and sometimes warn that a truck is in the area and will arrive in less than an hour.
Caller provides a call-back number and instructs you to give the numbers on the card. Once you give the numbers, your money goes to the scammer. We do not reimburse customers for such losses.
Scammers are sophisticated. Using online databases, they know your name and address and claim to have additional information about your account. Don’t be fooled. Call us anytime at 800-242-9137 to:
Determine if you received a scam
Check on account status
Verify payment history
The scammers also are intimidating. If you do not cooperate, they apply more pressure by implying that if you do not act within a few hours, your power may be off for days. They will say anything to frighten you into becoming a victim.
What you can do
We do not solicit payment from customers over the phone in this manner. If you get a call that sounds suspicious, hang up immediately and call us. 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 purchasers to request a refund.
If you experience a loss through this scam, report the crime to local law enforcement. Such scams occur nationwide, and federal authorities investigating this crime believe the scammers are working offshore of the United States.
These call call me arguing I had two month on We Energies with no payment. We Energies web site is warning about this kind of SCAM.
How the scam works
Caller says he or she is from the We Energies legal or collections department and may even provide a fake employee ID number. Some scammers have software to spoof our company name on your phone’s caller ID and may use a recording of our greeting to sound legitimate.
Caller claims you are behind on bill payment or have a malfunctioning meter that may cause your house to catch fire. Scammers also may claim that your meter is running fast or slow and that you must pay for installation of a new one, adding that the cost is rebated after installation.
Caller tells you to go to a nearby store, often recommending Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, SuperAmerica or Speedway to buy a pre-paid Visa debit card (sometimes referred to as a Green Dot card or MoneyPak card).
Caller tells you the exact amount for which to purchase the card, often hundreds of dollars. Scammers make the request seem urgent and sometimes warn that a truck is in the area and will arrive in less than an hour.
Caller provides a call-back number and instructs you to give the numbers on the card. Once you give the numbers, your money goes to the scammer. We do not reimburse customers for such losses.
Scammers are sophisticated. Using online databases, they know your name and address and claim to have additional information about your account. Don’t be fooled. Call us anytime at 800-242-9137 to:
Determine if you received a scam
Check on account status
Verify payment history
The scammers also are intimidating. If you do not cooperate, they apply more pressure by implying that if you do not act within a few hours, your power may be off for days. They will say anything to frighten you into becoming a victim.
What you can do
We do not solicit payment from customers over the phone in this manner. If you get a call that sounds suspicious, hang up immediately and call us. 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 purchasers to request a refund.
If you experience a loss through this scam, report the crime to local law enforcement. Such scams occur nationwide, and federal authorities investigating this crime believe the scammers are working offshore of the United States.