Officials Warn of Utilities Scam

GREGG COUNTY — AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. and other utility companies are warning residents of scams from fake sweepstakes to people claiming to be police, according to the Longview News-Journal. “Scammers are targeting local businesses, senior citizens and customers whose native language is not English,” said Brett Mason, SWEPCO’s director of customer service and marketing. SWEPCO teamed with other electric, water and natural gas utilities and trade associations this past week in support of Utilities United Against Scams, a weeklong advocacy and awareness campaign. Scammers pose as electric, water, or natural gas company employees, and they threaten a customer’s services will be disconnected or shut off if immediate payment isn’t made — typically using a prepaid card or other non-traceable form of payment, according to SWEPCO.

Gregg County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Josh Tubb said his office “always is getting calls on different scams.” He said one that comes up from time to time is the Publishers Clearing House scam, which involves a person called and told he or she has won money. The person then is asked to send a prepaid card of some sort to supposedly pay taxes on the winnings or to pay for attorney’s fees. Tubb said he has seen some scammers find the name of a deputy online and then call someone and claim that person has a warrant for his or her arrest because of missed jury duty. Others call claiming to be the FBI and threatening an arrest for unpaid traffic tickets.