Protect yourself from scammers
Thieves are stepping up efforts to pick your pockets by pretending to represent our cooperative. Safeguard your money and personal identity by knowing how to spot a scam.
In the newest con, scammers attempt to trick you into providing your bank account information to receive a refund for an overpaid bill. To further convince you to give up your bank account information, they promise a discount on future electric bills. Beware: Those who fall for this “refund” scam can have their bank account drained and their identity stolen.
Never give your personal information, including date of birth, Social Security number or banking account information to anyone over the phone unless you initiate the conversation, advises Denise Myers, vice president, community relations. She lists these additional tips for defending against utility scams:
- Most utility scams are now initiated via email, phone or text.
- Be suspicious of anyone claiming to be a Blue Grass Energy employee who requests banking or other personal information.
- Do not assume the name and number on your caller ID are legitimate. Caller IDs can be falsified.
- Do not click links or call numbers in unexpected emails or texts — especially those asking for your account information.
If you believe you have been called by a scammer, hang up. If the scam is by email or text, delete it before taking any action. If you are in doubt about your account status, contact us at memberservice@bgenergy.com or by calling 888-546-4243.