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'Utility Scam Awareness Day' Aims to Help Individuals Learn how to Spot Suspicious Behavior
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(58 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(OPEN):
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, IS THE SECOND-ANNUAL
"UTILITY-SCAM AWARENESS DAY". AND, SHERI GIVENS--THE
EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR OF "UTILITIES UNITED AGAINST
SCAMS", AND A FORMER TEXAS UTILITY-CONSUMER ADVOCATE--URGES EVERYONE TO LEARN HOW TO SPOT SUSPICIOUS
BEHAVIOR...
(GIVENS):
"SCAMMERS KNOW THAT ELECTRIC-, WATER-, AND NATURAL-GAS-SERVICES ARE VITAL TO
AMERICANS' EVERYDAY LIVES. THAT'S WHY THEY CONTINUALLY ATTEMPT TO PROFIT FROM
UTILITY-CUSTOMERS--ESPECIALLY MORE-VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SUCH AS LOWER-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS OR THE ELDERLY.
COMMON SCAMS INVOLVE UNSOLICITED TELEPHONE-, ELECTRONIC-, OR IN-PERSON-COMMUNICATIONS.
AND, SCAMMERS OFTEN THREATEN TO DISCONNECT OR SHUT OFF SERVICE--IF THE CUSTOMER FAILS TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.
IF YOUR BILL IS DELINQUENT, UTILITIES WILL SEND YOU SEVERAL
ADVANCE-NOTICES--USUALLY BY MAIL--AND WILL ACCEPT MULTIPLE FORMS OF PAYMENT.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER BUY A PREPAID CARD WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF USING IT TO PAY A BILL.
WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR ACCOUNT--BY CALLING YOUR UTILITY AT THE PHONE-NUMBER LISTED ON YOUR BILL, OR ON THE
COMPANY'S WEBSITE."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIPS, VISIT
W-W-W-DOT-"UTILITIES-UNITED"-DOT-ORG.
