Kansas utility companies have reported an increase in customer calls alerting them of imposters.
Scammers call residents threatening to shut off water or utility services within days or mere hours, unless the citizen pays the caller. These scammers say they must receive payment and have access to the customer’s financial information to keep the lights on or the air conditioner running.
In some cases, the scammer says that a consumer’s check bounced and demands payment with a pre-paid credit card or gift card. Other callers say they are trying to update credit card or banking information they have on file, and ask residents to reveal that personal information.
Furthermore, scammers may claim the COVID-19 crisis has affected the company in addition to its customers, and that they cannot currently process check or card payment. Do not pay cash to anyone who says they are from your utility company, even if the person has a uniform or an ID that looks real.
The Kansas Office of the Attorney General has also received these complaints. If you receive a call like this, simply hang up. If you have questions about the status of your utility bill payments, call the company directly at the phone number printed on your bill.
Another scam making the rounds have been people presenting themselves as solar panel installation companies going door-to-door seeking to sell residents solar power systems. These companies may claim to have established a partnership with your electric provider. Aggressive salespeople lead customers to believe that the solar panel systems will eliminate their electric bill, and they attempt to lock buyers into financing terms that will last longer than the expected life of the system.
Customers who receive such sales pitches should do their own research on solar panel systems and to report any suspected scams to the attorney general’s consumer protection division.
More information is available at www.InYourCornerKansas.org or by calling the Kansas Attorney General’s consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.
