Beware of Scams

Brownsville Public Utilities Board > Beware of Scams
logo_Utilities United Against Scams

BPUB is doing its part in the battle against scammers. This nationwide problem is being met by a coalition of utilities called Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), of which BPUB is now a part. The group’s mission is to educate customers about scammers and to put those scammers out of business.

Types of Scams

  • phone

    PHONE

    • Disconnection Deception: Scammers threatening to cut off services and demand payment.
    • Equipment or Repair Bogus Fee: Scammers call demanding separate payment to replace or install a utility-related device or meter.
    • Overpayment trick - Scammers call claiming you have overpaid your utility bill, and you need to provide personal bank account information or a credit card number to facilitate a refund.
    • Bill Payment or Credit Con - Scammers may provide you with a phony bank, Federal Reserve, secret account, or Social Security trust account routing number for you to use to pay your utility bills or to receive a credit for your utility bills.
    • Power Restoration Rip Off- Scammers call offering to restore power quickly or in a preferential order for immediate payment typically in the aftermath of hurricanes and other severe storms causing widespread power outages.
    • Smishing Scam - Smishing, short for SMS phishing, is a relatively new scam that attempts to trick mobile phone users into giving scammers personal information, which can be used for identity theft, via a text or SMS message.
  • in-person

    IN-PERSON

    • Contractor Con - Scammers posing as utility workers or contractors affiliated with your utility may knock on your door claiming to be employed or hired by the utility company to reset, repair, replace, or inspect your utility meter or other utility-related device.
    • Home Improvement Huckster - Scammers posing as utility workers may appear unannounced at your front door offering a free energy audit, efficiency inspection, water quality or pressure testing, or some other service.
    • Leak Lie - Scammers posing as utility workers may knock on your door claiming that there is a major gas or water leak in the area and that they need to come inside to check the pipes or lines.
  • social

    INTERNET

    • Bogus Emails - Scammers send suspicious emails that appear to be a bill sent by your utility company, potentially featuring your utility’s logo and color scheme.
    • Employment Ruse - Scammers post spoofed utility employment listings on job-search websites and contact potential job applicants with employment offers in an attempt to trick them into divulging personal information.

Consumer's Guide to Impostor Utility Scams

The Consumer’s Guide to Impostor Utility Scams is an educational guide that provides key information to consumers and community leaders on the types of impostor utility scams that are occurring across the country (phone, in-person, and internet), tips to avoid scams that individuals can use and share with their communities, and names and contact information for the entities and organizations that may be called upon in case someone becomes a victim of an impostor scam.

View Guide