Fake Utility Bills

Last time we discussed a phone version of utility payment scam; the email version has not been far behind. It may try to extract money from you or it may try to infect your computer. This scam affects utility customers nationwide.

Pepco, MidAmerican Energy and Florida Power and Light warn their customers about this scam.

This another scam you can avoid by using calling back authentication technique.
If it’s just a money demand, contact your utility the way you usually do. Call the customer service number you use to contact your utility or go directly to your utility web site. This way you avoid fraudsters and their accomplices.

If the email tells you to open an attachment or click on a link, do NOT do it. It may feel more convenient, but it can have unpleasant consequences. Even if it looks like your usual email that you get from your utility every month, it may still be an email that crooks copied and replaced links or attached malicious files to it.

Better to be safe than sorry.