The Omaha Public Power District is announcing another scam making the rounds this week.
OPPD says on Thursday, they received reports that scammers are contacting customers telling them they need to pay for a meter replacement. The Power District says as of Thursday afternoon, they had received nearly three dozen reports regarding that type of call.
The Power District says the scammers are demanding over-the-phone payment through credit, debit or checking account information. OPPD says the scammer have also instructed customers to purchase a pre-paid debit card, such as a Green Dot card, and to call back with the numbers. According to OPPD, the callers tend to be aggressive and threaten to disconnect service if customers do not pay. They say the scammers also often use “spoofing” technology so that the calls appear to be coming from an OPPD phone number.
OPPD stresses that none of these people demanding payments or financial information work for the utility. The utility says they'll never cold-call customers demanding payment for bills and that they don't charge for meter replacements. The power distract says they also don't accept payment in the form of pre-paid debit cards.
Omaha Public Power District advises customers:
- · Never give personal or financial information to a stranger during an unsolicited phone call.
- · If such a person should appear unannounced at one’s door, claiming to work for the utility, do not allow them inside. Always ask for identification or verification. OPPD employees always carry identification. Failure to produce identification is a tip-off to the customer that something is wrong.
- · Do not respond to text messages seeking personal information or utility bill payments or click on links within text messages.
- · Be suspicious of any emails you receive regarding your utility bill if you have not opted in to online communications from OPPD. Never provide personal information via email or click on suspicious links.
- · Never turn off security systems for any reason if a stranger asks. Any customer who receives such a request should call law enforcement immediately.
Customers with questions about making a payment, or about their account in general, should always call OPPD directly. Within Omaha, the number is 402-536-4131. Outside of Omaha, customers should call 1-877-536-4131.