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Obama Won’t Pay Your Utility Bill: Scam Warning Issued
July 11, 2012
A new scam is sweeping the nation by claiming that President Obama will pay your utility bills through a new federal stimulus program. Customers nationwide, including in northwest Florida have reported the scam, and several energy companies across the country have issued warnings to their customers about it, according to the BBB.
Consumers have been contacted in person and through fliers, social media, phone calls and text messages with claims that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
Scammers claim they need the consumers’ social security and bank routing numbers in order for them to receive the money. In return, customers are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, customers believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not, and they have now put themselves at risk of identity fraud, according to the BBB.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) also issued a warning about the scam on Tuesday.
The BBB offers the following tips for avoiding utility related scams:
- Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
- If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
- Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. If you have reported a problem, ask utility employees for proper identification.
- Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in-person to get into your home.
Comments
5 Responses to “Obama Won’t Pay Your Utility Bill: Scam Warning Issued”
Maybe “transparency” allows one to see in the dark.
I wish it were true. There isnt any help out there. Im doing the best i can and its not good enough maybe obama can explain to my kids why are lights are fixing to be turned off.
I heard you could give your savings to Romney and he would invest it in the Caymans with his so you don’t have to pay tax on it.
Please tell me that’s not a scam too.
Anything that has to do with “Obama” is more than likely a SCAM! Hearing his name or seeing his name offering anything should be enough not to grasp at straws….just my opinion!
A friend of mine told me she got her AT&T paid thru some program similar to this-I bet that was a scam too. She stated they were only paying for AT&T customers-I have Verizon.