BBB warns people of utility imposter scammers

Daylyn Huff
·2 min read

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– BBB warns Michigan residents of utility imposter scams. Officials with BBB say several utility companies have been impersonated by offering perks such as discounts on services. Scammers are now posing as Spectrum Internet.

The catch is the customer must pay for the next few months of service upfront. The scammer says the payment can only be made through a gift card, claiming it is part of a partnership.

Officials say last month, a Mount Pleasant woman received a voicemail from someone claiming to be Spectrum Internet, offering her 50% off her service.

The woman called the number left in the message, and the operator said she could have the discount for three years with no contracts but had to pay for 15 months in advance.

The operator also claimed to have added a $50 credit to her account. She was instructed to buy gift cards totaling $420 to make the purchase. When she did not receive an email confirmation of her payment, she contacted law enforcement who confirmed it was a scam.

She was not able to get her money back as she paid with a gift card.

BBB says

Spectrum is aware of the scam and has guidelines on its website on how to identify this scam.

How to avoid utility impersonation scams:

Never make payments with prepaid debit cards or gift cards. 

  • Scammers prefer these payment methods because there is nothing you can do to get your money back. Remember, legitimate companies almost always accept checks and credit cards as the primary means of payment.

  • Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether it’s over the phone, by email, on social media, or even at your front door. This includes banking and credit card information, your birthdate, Social Security or account numbers.

Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails.

  • Links, if clicked, will download malware onto your computer, smartphone, tablet, or whatever electronic device you’re using at the time allowing cyber thieves to steal your identity. Be cautious even with an email that looks familiar; it could be fake. Take a look at the BBB tip for how to spot a scam email.

When in doubt, verify special deals with your utility company.

  • If you are unsure about a promotional offer you’ve been presented with, get the customer service number from the company’s official website or your latest bill. Call the company directly to make sure the offer is real. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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