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Last updated on Wednesday, November 13, 2013
(UNDATED) - The Better Business Bureau is warning homeowners and business owners of a bill payment scam that is targeting utility customers.
The caller claims to be a utility company employee (LG&E, KU, or Duke Energy), telling the customer their bill is overdue, and asks for immediate bill payment by Green Dot MoneyPak Card. If the customer does not cooperate, the caller threatens to disconnect the person's electric or natural gas service.
This is an old scam that has resurfaced in the local area. A Louisville BBB Accredited Business owner contacted the BBB today, upset that he had fallen for the scam. The owner received a call from a person who claimed to be an LG&E employee, saying they had a crew ready to shut off electric to his business if his "past due bill" was not paid in the next hour with a MoneyPak Card. The business owner purchased several MoneyPak cards and gave the scammers the numbers off the back of several of the cards.
In some instances, scam artists are even using caller ID spoofing to make it look like they are calling from the legitimate source.
BBB advises utility customers:
Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
Never give out personal or financial information to anyone who calls or emails you.
Never wire money or provide debit or credit card numbers to someone you do not know.
Utility companies will not contact customers demanding immediate payment by MoneyPak to avoid an immediate service disconnection.
Call your utility company directly to find out if there is a problem with your account.
For more consumer tips, go to www.bbb.org.
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