Spanish-Speaking, Elderly Targeted by Power Bill Phone Scam

Spanish-speaking residents and the elderly are apparently the targets of phone scammers posing as electric company employees, according to Virginia Attorney General's Office.

The scammers call their victims and threaten to cut off their electricity unless immediate payment is made, even going as far as to "spoof" the phone numbers of utility companies so their number will show on the victims' phone caller IDs.

Three Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative customers this month and several this year were contacted by scammers, NOVEC officials said in a release on Wednesday. 

In some cases, the callers go as far as demanding the customers go to Walmart, buy a Green Dot Visa prepaid debit card and use it to pay their "utility bills" over the phone to scammers.

“We’re telling all customers that NOVEC does not do business this way,” Pam Ringel, the NOVEC customer service supervisor said. “We’re advising them to call NOVEC’s Customer Service Center at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500 to verify their account information after receiving any suspicious calls or text messages, even if the number displayed on their phones is the Co-op’s phone number. We’re also advising them to contact the police or report the incident to a consumer affairs bureau."

NOVEC sometimes places courtesy bill reminder calls to its customers using a interactive voice system, but it is never a live person asking for credit card information or a Social Security number, Ringel said.

Avoid being scammed by using these tips from the attorney general's office:

• Attempt to verify the identity of callers who claim to represent a business. Do not provide money or personal information to an unsolicited caller whose identity cannot be verified.
• Take time making a decision. Legitimate companies don't pressure customers to make a snap decision.
• Don' make payments by purchasing a Visa Green Dot card or other means when told to do so. Report the call immediately to the utility company and verify your account status.
• If a payment is made to a scammer, report it to the local police, or to state or federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission