October 20, 2021
Carson City, NV – Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford echoes
a warning from NV Energy about imposter scams targeting NV Energy customers. Recently,
NV Energy has noticed an increase in scams falsely using the NV Energy name to trick
consumers into giving the scammers money. These imposter scammers have assumed NV
Energy’s identity in order to carry out their scam and usually threaten to
disconnect customers’ electricity unless customers immediately pay money to
keep it turned on.
“Fraudsters who engage in utility imposter
scams, such as those affecting NV Energy customers, know that establishing fear
of having one's electricity shut off is a critical part of executing their
scam,” said AG
Ford. “Once the scammer
has convinced the customer they are calling from the utility company, the
scammer convinces the person his or her electricity will be shut off unless the
person sends them money immediately."
Utility imposter scammers use a variety of
tactics in their scams to defraud consumers. The scammer may robocall you or disguise
their caller ID to appear as though the call is from a legitimate utility, like
NV Energy. Once you are speaking with the scammer, they may provide you with a
fake employee ID number and may even have some personal information about you, such
as your address. Most often, the scammer will then threaten to disconnect your
service if you do not make a payment immediately. The scammer usually demands payment
in the form of prepaid debit card, credit card, gift card or digital currency.
A new sophisticated twist on the scam involves
the scammers’ use of QR codes. A scammer will text a QR code to the utility
customer with instruction to use this code at a local bill pay kiosk to pay
their utility bill. The QR code is linked to the scammer’s account, not the
utility’s account, and the consumer's payment goes directly to the scammer.
The Office of the Nevada Attorney General
suggests the following tips to help protect yourself and your loved ones from
utility imposter scams:
Ask questions and
obtain the caller's employer ID. Hang up and call the utility back at the number
located on your utility bill;
Ask for your full
account number. A legitimate employee will generally be able to provide a full
account number to you — not simply a few digits. Addresses are easy to find
through a simple internet search; just because someone has your correct address
does not mean that the caller is legitimate;
Don’t feel pressured
to make a payment out of fear or intimidation. Scammers will often call on
Fridays or before holiday weekends to incite panic that you will not have
electricity for the weekend;
A legitimate utility
or telecommunication company will never demand payment over the phone, via text
or in person to avoid the disconnection of services. A utility and
telecommunication service will not disconnect service without prior written
notice; and
Do not provide
personal information to the scammer, including social security numbers,
passwords, PINs or payment information.
If you have been a victim of a utility
imposter scam, report it to the utility company. You can also file a complaint
with the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Nevada Attorney General. You can also file a police report with
local law enforcement, particularly if you had physical interaction with the
scammer. Include as much information as possible with your complaint, including
phone numbers, QR codes and transaction receipt information.
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