Spam targets Spanish-speaking utility customers

Pacific Power is warning its Spanish-speaking customers that crooks posing as customer service agents are trying to steal personal information.

The scammers call Spanish-speaking customers claiming to be from the company. They tell the potential victim they have not paid for their electric service and are in jeopardy of being disconnected.

The caller advises the customer to make a payment either immediately on the phone, by calling a special number or by going to a local store to purchase a pre-paid card and call back with the code.

Pacific Power urges its customers that this is not a legitimate request and that Pacific Power does not follow this practice. If Pacific Power contacts a customer, the representative will always have the customer’s account number.

Even then, if you are approached by phone and have any concerns about the validity of the call, it is always appropriate to let the caller know you prefer to call them back. Pacific Power can be reached any time, toll-free at 1-888-221-7070.

“These scammers are in no way associated with our company and we take very seriously any efforts to defraud our customers, especially using our company’s good customer relationships and reputation,” said Karen Gilmore, vice president, customer service.

Customers should never provide unsolicited callers or visitors with credit card numbers or any other information that may compromise their financial security. As another safeguard, if a customer calls Pacific Power to ask questions or pay their bill, the customer will be asked specifically to verify his or her identity to protect access to their account.

Anyone receiving such visits or calls about their utility bill is encouraged to pay attention to any information – such as the phone number you are asked to call, a number that appears on caller ID, an address where they’re supposed to send money, or even vehicle license plate numbers – and to report the incident to local police and Pacific Power.

In its efforts to stop this scam, the company would also like to hear from customers who have received such a call. Please call 1-888-221-7070 with any questions or to report any additional information.

Pacific Power encourages customers to consider paperless billing. Not only is it environmentally friendly, it is more secure than billing by mail. Every bill you receive on paper is more costly to resources and also is an opportunity for account information theft from the mail box or the trash can.