Scammers are once again working to steal your information/money
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, February 6th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – Utility scams are being reported again. Recently Elkhorn Media Group has been alerted that citizens in the La Grande area are receiving calls from someone claiming to be from the electric company and demanding money or have services shut off.
Joseph Hathaway from Oregon Trail Electric says that it is not uncommon for OTEC to receive a report of two each week of these sorts of calls.
In years past as these scams have been reports, OTEC had issued some tips for spotting a scam. Those tips are as follows.
•Because OTEC 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.
•If you feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call OTEC at 541-523-3616. 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, always ask employees for proper identification.
If you receive a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from OTEC, play it safe and contact OTEC directly at 541-523-3616.
Don’t give out credit card numbers and personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know who you’re dealing with.
