ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nov. 20 marks Utility Scam Awareness Day, which is especially relevant this year in Tampa Bay following recent hurricanes.
The Better Business Bureau is teaming up with local utility companies to address a wave of scam artists descending on our area, often taking advantage of people who have already lost so much.
This year alone, nearly 800 Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas customers reported scam attempts with losses totaling about $112,000.
Bryan Oglesby with the BBB in Tampa Bay says the organization is joining forces with local utility companies like Duke Energy, TECO and Peoples Gas to get the word out.
“No utility company is going to pressure you to make a decision on the spot,” Oglesby said. “You can call the company first. Ask questions. And make an informed decision.”
Sadly, utility scams become more common after major storms. People posing as utility workers have been known to pressure people into coughing up cash for security deposits, equipment replacements or fake fees.
“Scammers playoff emotions. Consumers are very emotional right now. They've had their houses destroyed. They may not be aware that they paid the bill or didn't pay a bill,” Oglesby said. “So, scammers know this. They know to take advantage of that.”
The BBB offers some key tips:
- Always ask for ID in person or call the utility company back to avoid caller ID spoofing
- Don't fall for immediate payment demands
- Don't use cash apps, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency to make a payment
BBB officials say the typical victim of a utility scam gets taken for somewhere between $400 and $500.
They say the crime is under-reported, so they encourage people to make the BBB, utility companies and Law Enforcement aware to better assess how widespread the issue is and identify those responsible.
“These are scams,” Oglesby said. “Do not respond to them.”