Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Once upon a time, there were scam artists who tried to get money by claiming to be an African prince in desperate need of help to collect large sums of money. All they needed was your bank account number to get started.
Over time, scammers have become more sophisticated in how they get money from unknowing people. They pretend to be the U.S. Postal Service asking for the correct address to deliver a package or a FedEx delivery person who is running late and needs to make sure they are going to the right place.
Now, they are sending text messages supposedly from Rocky Mountain Power to unknowing customers, asking for phone calls, account numbers, credit card numbers for some payment of some kind and more financial tricks.
"The scammers are going after people with what could look like a legit task," said Jona Whitesides, from Rocky Mountain Power. "There is an increase this time of year because you're busy and when you see a message from Rocky Mountain Power, you think it's real, so you answer. You're not thinking it through and they know that."
Scammers have your cellphone number because somewhere along the line, your data was sold to someone, who sold it to someone, who sold it to someone else. Most U.S. text and email scams come from outside the U.S., although they can come from anywhere. Software is used to translate sentences (often incorrectly) into English, which is why sentences may seem to be grammatically incorrect or missing words.
While it may be difficult to determine if a text is a scam, it is easier to contact the supposed sender and ask if the text has been sent. You can also check whether you are even enrolled to receive messages by text from Rocky Mountain Power. If not, the text is a scam.
The Better Business Bureau in Utah has seen and heard of an increase in online scams, in general, but especially when online shopping. The scam artists have created advertisements placed on social media that are not only enticing to you but to teenagers, as well.
"People are not thinking of verifying the information when they are online," said Melani Fox from the Better Business Bureau of Utah. "With Black Friday and Cyber Monday ... it's important not to click on any advertisements on social media."
Rocky Mountain Power asks customers to contact them and/or the Better Business Bureau of Utah when they receive these scam texts.
The bureau's online Scam Tracker collects information, verifies whether it is a scam and, in two days, the information will be posted to prevent others from falling for the schemes.
Rocky Mountain Power also blocks website access from a handful of countries in the Caribbean, some countries each in South America, the Middle East and Asia. This may impact customers on vacation, but calls appear to be coming from countries in these areas.
"With the advancement in technology, we all get doing things online and having information on a site and the scammers know that," Whitesides said. "You can always call us to ask questions or left us know what's going on. We want to help you."
Customers can protect themselves from these types of schemes by being aware of the following facts:
- Scammers will often say your service is scheduled to be interrupted in the next 30 to 60 minutes.
Fact: Rocky Mountain Power will not contact any customer demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection of service the same day.
- Fraudsters may ask you to purchase a prepaid card and that you tell them the card information over the phone.
Fact: Rocky Mountain Power does not ask customers to make payments by purchasing a prepaid card. You and other customers can always choose how to make your payments.
- Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you by phone, email, text or in person and is demanding on-the-spot payment.
Fact: Rocky Mountain Power will not demand immediate payment for damaged or broken electrical equipment or any other service.
- If you receive one of these calls, ask the caller to state your account number and compare it with the number listed on your bill.
Fact: Rocky Mountain Power customer service employees will always have your correct account number.
- Scammers increasingly have used text messages as a means of targeting victims.
Fact: Rocky Mountain Power will not demand payment via text message. Rocky Mountain Power encourages customers to set up their online billing profile at Pay My Bill (rockymountainpower.net) where they can pay bills and review statements.
- Scammers may use a sophisticated deceptive tactic that makes it appear to caller ID systems that the call is coming from Rocky Mountain Power when it is not. Hang up and call customer service directly.
