The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities is warning customers about utility scams.
Scammers are using a new tactic, according to reports from some BPU customers.
Callers, fraudulently claiming to be BPU representatives, are telling customers they have been overcharged on their electric bill and are owed a credit, according to a BPU spokesman.
An individual on the call asks for credit card information to apply a refund, according to the BPU spokesman. The calls are not from the BPU, the spokesman stated.
In most cases, the caller claims to be a BPU customer service representative to get the customer to provide credit card information or other personal information, telling the customer a check has bounced or he or she has a past-due bill.
According to BPU representatives, multiple reports have been made about calls stating if payment is not made, services will be shut off within 30 minutes. The caller claims to represent a local utility and sometimes uses caller ID spoofing to convince victims the call is from a real customer service number.
Imposters often will ask customers to use a pre-paid card for payment. BPU will never ask a customer to purchase a pre-paid debit card, or any form of cryptocurrency, to pay for service, the spokesman stated.
BPU never asks for payment over the phone or threatens to disconnect utilities due to nonpayment, the spokesman stated. Customers who suspect they are being targeted by a scam need to hang up and call the BPU customer service department at 913-573-9190. If they feel they have been the victim of a scam, work with local law enforcement to report the crime.
Although BPU sometimes uses pre-recorded messages to notify customers about future dates for possible disconnection, they do not cold-call customers to demand immediate payment, the spokesman stated.
BPU offered these tips for customers to protect themselves if they are unsure about a call, email or visit from a utility representative:
• Never give credit or debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your door, calls, texts or sends an email asking for information regarding your utility bill. Verify the request is authentic by asking to see company identification or calling the BPU customer service department.
• Be suspicious if you receive an email regarding your utility bill if you have not requested online communications from BPU.
• Never provide personal information via email or click any suspicious links or attachments.
BPU said electric customers have been targeted by scammers using a variety of scam attempts for a number of years in several states besides Kansas, including Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
- Story from BPU