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Utility Customers Targeted by Scam

TSPR's Emily Boyer

McDonough Power Cooperative is warning customers about scam artists who are impersonating co-op personnel. 

The co-op’s Kelly Hamm said two businesses in Macomb reported receiving phone calls from people claiming to be with the McDonough Power Cooperative.

Both times, the callers threatened to end service unless they received payment.

“What they were suggesting is that people go to their local CVS or Walgreens and get a prepaid debit card and call them back, Hamm said. “They were actually giving a phone number and a name of a person and they were asking them to call them back and make their payment.”

Hamm said she tried calling the number.  She was put on hold and never reached anyone.

The McDonough Power Cooperative does not require payments be made over the phone. Hamm said customers will first be sent their bill in the mail and will receive a follow up reminder if payment is needed.

“They will then receive an automated telephone call from us,” Hamm said. “And then as a final attempt if they still haven’t paid their bill, we send a lineman out and they will physically knock on the door and kind of do a final attempt to collect the funds.”

Hamm said she’s heard reports of this type of scam affecting other cooperatives.  

“We are a member of the national rural electric cooperative association and they have been putting some blasts out here recently about the scam alerts so I know other utilities have been targeted as well and it just so happens we have had a few here in our area,” Hamm said.

Hamm would like anyone else who receives a scam phone call to notify the McDonough Power Cooperative.

Emily Boyer is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.