Scam Prevention
You get a call or a visit from someone claiming to be from Highline Electric Association. They explain that your bill is past due and threaten to shut off your service if you don't make a payment immediately. However, you know your monthly bill was paid. Do you need to worry?
The answer is yes, but not for the reason you might think. Energy bill scams are becoming increasingly common. Scammers will use aggressive tactics, such as insisting your account is delinquent and threatening to shut off service immediately. As a Highline member, it can be difficult to ignore these convincing phone calls, emails or text messages.
To protect yourself from scams, be on the lookout for these red flags:
- Demand for payment in unconventional ways, such as cash, bank transfer or a check in their name
- Requests for personal information such as your social security number and bank account numbers
- The scammer has no proof of employment with your energy company and isn't wearing branded clothing or materials
In some cases, scammers will use seasonal bill spikes as an opportunity to swindle members. For example, they might call with a fake promotion to help you save money. This type of fraud is most common in the summer and winter months when increased energy demand leads to higher bills, and members may be more receptive to savings opportunities.
Follow these steps if you encounter an energy bill scam:
- If a suspected scammer calls threatening immediate disconnection, hang up.
- Contact Highline Electric and explain the situation. We will verify your account information.
- Spread the word to family, friends and neighbors so that they don't become victims of the scam.
- Report the scam to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Keep in mind that if your bill is in fact unpaid, Highline Electric Association will not immediately disconnect service. First, you'll receive a past due notice highlighting the overdue amount. Please note that members are able to sign up for email/text notifications regarding the status of their bill as well.
Highline Electric Association gives members ample time to make payments and will never use threatening tactics or require payment in unconventional ways. With this knowledge, you can empower yourself against scammers.