On Thursday, a Poplarville woman got a call she believed was from the Mississippi Public Service Commission, asking for her bank account information.
The scammer on the other end — going by the alias of Sean White — told her she had been overcharged by Entergy power, and she was due for a $50 a month refund for the next four to five months.
The woman gave the scammer her bank account information, as the call appeared legitimate. Thankfully, she called the public service commission later that day, Northern District Commissioner for Mississippi Chris Brown told The Dispatch on Friday.
“They even provided a name and a badge number,” Brown said. “And of course, we don’t do anything like that. We don’t have badge numbers, and we don’t take or receive funds from anybody, as far as ratepayers.”
When the Mississippi Public Service Commission received the call, Brown said, it immediately advised the woman to contact her bank, notifying them of the incident. PCS also recommended she contact the attorney general.
On Friday, PCS put out a public service announcement, warning citizens of the danger of the scam.
“We just wanted everybody to know, you’re never going to get a call from the Public Service Commission asking for money or getting refunds, because that’s the power company’s (responsibility),” Brown said.
The commission also advised citizens who receive these scam calls to hang up, calling the official lines for the Public Service Commission or for their utility companies directly before providing any account information over the phone.
“Never give any of your personal information over the phone,” Brown said. “… I would personally call the trusted number back, and never accept a call or give anybody information that calls you. I would hang up and call the trusted number back, like your bank or your credit card company — or like this individual did — call us to confirm it.”
Brown said that was the only call PCS had received so far on the matter, and there was no confirmation on whether money was stolen from the woman’s account.
However, 4-County Electric Power Association, which PSC regulates, has dealt with scammers claiming to be its employees.
Jon Turner, marketing and public relations director with 4-County, said technology has given scammers the ability to make a phone call look like it’s from anyone. He also said calls like this usually have a sense of urgency to them.
“We’re not going to call and tell you that we’re going to come turn your lights out if you don’t pay us right then and there,” Turner said. “… We just caution folks if somebody calls for payment information or banking information, it’s 100% not us. If you’re not comfortable to hang up and talk to one of our customer service folks or talk to the county department, and we’ll set you straight.”
The PSC asks state residents to report suspicious activity to the commission and to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Brown said people are welcome to contact PCS online or to call for further information.
The Public Service Commission website is psc.ms.gov/, or its general number is (601) 961-5434.
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