Beware of Utility Bill Payment Scam

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Beware of Utility Bill Payment Scam

July 16, 2012
The Michigan Public Service Commission and utility companies nationwide are warning consumers of a new identity theft scam involving claims that consumer utility bills will be paid through a new federal program.

Consumers are contacted door-to-door, via text messages, and through fliers with claims that a special federal government assistance program authorized by President Obama is applying payments to utility bills.

Victims are asked to provide their social security numbers or other personal identifying information in exchange for a bank routing number that will allegedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, and consumers believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not.

Co-op members, or any consumer, should never give out personal information, including financial account numbers or social security numbers, over the phone or internet to someone they do not know. Any consumer who receives a call from someone claiming to be a utility company and feels pressured for immediate payment or personal information is being counseled to hang up the phone and call the customer service number on their utility bill.

Filing Consumer Complaints
Consumers are being encouraged to first contact their electric co-op or utility company to discuss billing or service issues. If a resolution cannot be reached, the MPSC assists Michigan consumers with their electric, natural gas, telecom or video/cable complaints.

The MPSC provides several methods to submit complaints – online, or by phone, fax or regular mail. Additional information on how to submit both formal and informal complaints is available on the MPSC website at: www.michigan.gov/mpsccomplaints

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The Michigan Public Service Commission and utility companies nationwide are warning consumers of a new identity theft scam involving claims that consumer utility bills will be paid through a new federal program.
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