UTILITY SCAM

Tips for Spotting a Scam:

Because Alger Delta does sometimes contact members by phone, it can be difficult to tell a scammer from a member representative. Here are some tips:

If a caller specifically asks you to pay by prepaid debit card, this is a RED FLAG! Our member service reps DO NOT take payments over the phone.
If you feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your bill. This will ensure you are speaking to a real representative.
Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or reported a problem. Also, ask the employee for proper identification.

These types of scams continue to make their way around the country on a regular basis. All utility industries have been on alert for this scam previously and as long as the scammers continue to make money, it will, unfortunately, continue to be an issue for all industries.

How to identify a utility scammer over the phone

These fraudsters usually request “payment” by strange or unconventional means. Demands for prepaid debit or credit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, money orders, or cash are a dead giveaway that the person you’re speaking with is trying to scam you. Another sign is extreme urgency. Scammers may insist you have to pay in the next hour. Often, they will try to keep you on the phone to hurry and badger you, preventing you from realizing that you’re being deceived.

What to do if you’ve been targeted in an energy scam

If you get a suspicious call demanding sensitive information or asking for nontraditional payment methods, hang up and call the police. It’s important to report scams to help protect other people from falling for it and being exploited. Alger Delta's member service reps DO NOT take payments over the phone.

If you’re unsure that if speaking with someone who was trying to con you, contact Alger Delta's customer service team at 1-800-562-0950 to look up and verify your account status. Do not use the callback number provided by the unknown caller.

How to avoid falling prey to a utility scam

Simply knowing about the types of scams criminals run is your best defense against falling for one. You should protect identifying information about yourself and always confirm the status of your account before believing anything someone says during an unsolicited call or visit. A legitimate company representative will be happy to let you confirm your account details.

Protect Your Information

Never throw out documents like bills that contain your personal information or billing details. Shred or burn these documents when you’re done with them. Better yet—go paperless. If you do your billing on a shared or public computer, log out of your email and bank account when you’re done and never save any passwords in the web browser.

Check Account Status or Go-Paperless!

Check Your Account Status