Since Wisconsin’s utility disconnection moratorium ended on April 15, consumers have experienced an increase in utility scam calls.
Scammers call random numbers and threaten to disconnect your utilities due to late payments, incorrectly filed documents, or another excuse unless they are paid immediately.
They contact consumers claiming to represent a local utility company – and may even manipulate their caller ID to appear as that company. Michelle Reinen of the state DATCP reminds citizens that this is NOT the M.O. of a utility company.
“This is not legitimate. It is NOT how disconnections work in our state,” she explained. “Utility companies are going to contact you by mail. They’re going to knock and have ID badgers and try to work with you.”
Reinen also reminds those who think they are being scammed in this manner to first call up your utility providers.
She suggests, “If you’re at all questioning if it’s legitimate…if you’re at all concerned, just dial your local utility company using the phone number on your billing statement.”
More information on this and other possible scams can be found online at datcp.wi.gov.
