The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has issued a warning about a phone scam that uses spoofing technology to mimic official PUC communications, aiming to deceive residents into paying fictitious fees. This scam has prompted over 70 complaints in one day, with scammers falsely claiming that a request to switch energy suppliers has been made and demanding an immediate cancellation fee under the threat of service termination.
Scammers are exploiting the trust in utility providers by creating a false urgency around unauthorized supplier switches. The PUC clarifies that it does not engage in practices such as making direct calls for payments, confirming supplier switches, or threatening service interruptions. This distinction is crucial for residents to recognize the fraudulent nature of these calls.
To combat this scam, the PUC recommends several protective measures. Customers should never share personal or financial information with unsolicited callers, hang up on suspicious calls immediately, and verify any account changes directly with their utility provider using the contact information found on their billing statement. The PUC has taken steps to address this issue by reporting the scam to law enforcement and working with utilities across the state to increase public awareness.
UGI Utilities, serving more than 760,000 customers in Pennsylvania, is among the companies supporting the PUC's initiative to inform the public about this scam. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of skepticism and caution when receiving unexpected communications regarding utility services. For more information on how to protect yourself from scams, visit https://www.puc.pa.gov.
