Local Energy Companies Issue Scam Warnings
Companies will not turn power off in the next 60 days, officials say
WEST JEFFERSON-Nobody is coming to shut off your power this month. That’s a message Duke Energy wants to be clear. If you get a call or email warning that your power is going to be turned off, hang up or delete it. The company issued a statement to media this week, warning that scammers are using the quarantine to trick customers.
“We will never ask for personal information over the phone or demand payment using money orders or gift cards,” Duke officials said in the statement.
They also pointed out that no one will have their power turned off through June. That’s an official Duke Energy policy, one originally announced earlier in March as a way to help residents deal with the virus quarantine. Gov. Roy Cooper later signed an executive order, declaring the same thing. Anyone threatening a disconnection, Duke officials said, does not represent their company.
“We have suspended disconnections for nonpayment for home and business accounts during this time,” Duke officials said in their statement. “We will waive all fees for late payments and returned checks, and for credit or debit card payments for residential accounts. In addition, we are relaxing our usual timelines for payment arrangements. Customers who were recently disconnected can contact us to make arrangements for service restoration.”
The same goes for Blue Ridge Energy. On March 23, the company issued a statement saying they were suspending all disconnects, as well as propane and fuel late charges.
A ‘Perfect Storm’ For Scammers
The Better Business Bureau of Northwest North Carolina warns that scammers go looking for targets during a quarantine period. Moreso than on the phone, residents need to be careful about how they handle email.
“According to our research, social isolation is a key risk factor for susceptibility to scams, as is financial vulnerability,” said Melissa Lanning Trumpower, executive director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, BBB’s foundation that conducted the research. “Add increased time spent online and coronavirus creates the ‘perfect storm’ for scammers, because all three of these factors have increased dramatically.”
According to the Bureau’s data, 81.2 percent of people lost money to online scams at some point in 2019. Instead of just clicking on email links, Trumpower recommends people take a few precautions. If it looks like a message from your power company or any other utility, don’t click on the link. Instead, go straight to the company’s website and sign in with your login information. That way you avoid the risk of fake links.
Also, if a company like Duke or Blue Ridge has already stated they won’t shut down your power, that’s not going to be changed through an email. You would get a notice in the mail. With that in mind, any emails claiming you’re at risk of disconnection during this quarantine can be deleted. Finally, Trumpower says not to be afraid of directly calling the company if you still have questions. That’s often a good way of clearing up any confusion.
Brian Carlton is the editor of NWNC Magazine. He can also be reached at brian.carlton38@gmail.com.
