It is the world we live in today — the necessity to pause and consider before we click, answer or respond to someone seeking information. No industry, person or business is off limits to scammers, who even try to con their way into the utility industry.  

Learn how to spot and avoid utility scams, especially in this age of AI 

When it comes to power bills, scammers make threatening phone calls to consumers to demand immediate payment, or else! (Or else their service will be shut off, they threaten.)  

Don’t fall for these scams. Real utility companies don’t do this. But scammers want to scare you into paying before you have time to confirm what they’re telling you. And scammers are now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to craft frauds that are difficult for you to detect.  

Beware of these common scam tactics: 

• Disconnection threats: Scammers claim your service will be cut off without immediate payment. However, utilities typically send initial disconnection notices in writing.
• Caller ID spoofing: Caller ID can fib. Fraudsters use software to make their calls appear legitimate.
• Overpayment claims: They may say you’ve overpaid and ask for personal or banking information to issue a refund.
• Smishing: Scammers send fake text messages that seem to come from your utility company.
• Phishing attempts: Beware of emails that look like bills; always verify the sender’s email before clicking links. 

If you have any doubt about the status of your electric service, call your utility company using the customer service phone number on their website. 

Watch for the red flags: 

• High-pressure tactics that demand urgent action.
• Unusual payment method requests (wire transfer, gift cards, reloadable cards or cryptocurrency).
• Poor grammar, misspellings and suspicious email addresses. 

AI use enhances utility scams: 

• AI helps scammers craft convincing emails that include use of company colors and logos and appear to be legitimate.
• AI is used to create realistic-looking utility company websites that are nearly indistinguishable from legitimate ones.
• AI technology can clone voices of utility company representatives, making phone scams convincing.
• AI analyzes victims’ online presence and social media to create very personalized spam that appears related to your utility services. 

Protect yourself: 

• Take your time. Don’t believe them.
• Don’t trust your caller ID.
• Don’t provide personal information (including your utility account number).
• Don’t give money or agree to immediate payment.
• Verify any communication by calling your utility company directly using the number on your bill or their website.
• Beware: fake numbers and links can appear in emails and texts, so go to the direct source instead of following a link.
• Legitimate companies won’t ask for sensitive details over the phone.
• If someone at your door claims to be a utility worker, request official identification. 

Scams are everywhere. No matter the scam, the goal of the scammer is to gather personal information.

Stay safe: Do not share Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank information, death certificates or birth dates. Thieves use this information to steal your identity.  

If you suspect a scam, report it to your utility company and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

If you become a victim of a scam, report it to the local police and your bank. Protect yourself by blocking unknown callers and keeping software updated on phones and computers.