BARNSTABLE – A nationwide phone scam that began to reach this area of Massachusetts in recent months is targeting utility customers.
Eversource Energy is warning customers of callers pretending to be a utility representative threatening to cut power.
“If you get a call from somebody . . . demanding immediate money before your power will be shut off, it’s not us,” said Eversource Energy spokesman Mike Durand. “We don’t do business that way.”
Durand said the scammers are asking for people to pay by pre-paid debit card, such as Green Dot MoneyPak and Vanilla Reload Network. Actual representatives would not ask for this form of payment according to Durand.
The scammers are not just targeting residential customers, but also businesses. Durand said the callers are also targeting businesses when they are most vulnerable.
“The scammers will call a business, say a restaurant or café, in the middle of their busiest time of day and tell them that they owe a certain amount of money,” he said. “Of course in the middle of their busiest time they do not want to lose power so some people fall for that and they are out money.”
Durand said customers who receive a call like this should hang up immediately and contact the utility company and local law enforcement.
A real utility representative making a call to a customer will have basic information about the account.
“Turn the table and ask them a couple of questions if you have any question at all, if you think it might be legitimate,” Durand said.
Eversource Energy provides power for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and the South Shore.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Got a phone call claiming to be Eversource. They asked me for my account number so they could give me a lower rate. I didn’t give them any info. since I thought it might be a scam.