4-County Electric Power Association officials are asking customers to call law enforcement if they have received phone calls asking for bill payments.
Utility provider communication specialist Brad Barr said the culprits are using technology that allows them to pose as a 4-County representative on caller ID. He said the scammer calls a potential victim claiming to be affiliated with 4-County and demanding a payment or asking for sensitive banking or personal information.
“The scammer uses ‘spoofing’ technology that fakes caller ID information so it appears that they are actually calling from 4-County,” Barr said. “The fake caller ID makes it almost impossible to tell the difference from a real call from 4-County or any other utility provider and a scammer.”
Barr advised that 4-County does not call customers to ask for payments or to get credit or personal information. Legitimate phone numbers for 4-County can be found in monthly bill statements or by visiting 4county.org.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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