Business & Tech
Phone Scams On The Rise, Tucson Electric Says
Tucson Electric Power says that they've seen an increase in customers being contacted by scammers trying to steal money.

TUCSON, AZ – It's simple. if someone calls you, says that they are from Tucson Electric Power, and start demanding money right away or your service will be cut off, there's a good chance that it's a scam.
Tucson Electric reports that in February alone, more than 200 of their customers received calls from scammers pretending to be with the company.
The scammers say that they are from TEP, warn the customer that they are about to have their service shut off, and take on an angry tone. They then say that the only way out is to pay the bill right away over the phone.
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Sometimes the caller will give them a short amount of time to go get a prepaid money card.
TEP says that if you get a call like that, hang up. it's not how they operate.
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The utility says that if you have questions about your bill or concerns about these issues, please call TEP’s Customer Care team at (520) 623-7711 – the number listed on your monthly bill and here, on tep.com. Don’t call other phone numbers provided by scammers.
TEP also says that customers who receive phone calls or text messages like these also are encouraged to contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Tucson office at (520) 628-6504 or to file a consumer complaint at azag.gov.
Image via ShutterStock.
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