Charlotte Police Warn Of Utility Bill Payment Scam

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Scammers claiming to represent utility companies and threatening to disconnect services without immediate payment through prepaid gift cards or PayPal have started targeting the Charlotte region, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The scam strategy, which uses computer technology to try to make the call seem legitimate, is not a new one but has been reported to CMPD three times in the past week, police say.

“Imagine receiving a phone call from your utility company saying they’re about to cut off your electricity,” says a Federal Trade Commission bulletin about the scam. “The caller ID looks like it might be a legitimate phone number, but you know you’ve paid your bill. The caller says, ‘I can stop this, but only if you pay me.’”

Scammers ask for payment through gift cards or reloadable debit cards, like GreenDot cards for a reason, according to the FTC. “It lets them get your money in a way that you’ll never get it back,” FTC said.

What should you do if you receive a call like this? Here’s what the FTC says: “If you get a call, email, text, or even a visit from someone telling you to make a payment via PayPal, or to buy a GreenDot card or a gift card, it’s probably a scam. Call your utility company on the phone number that appears on your bill, describe what happened, and report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission, online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.”