TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UniSource Energy Services (UES) reminds customers to protect themselves
from scammers who claim to work for UES and try to solicit payments
using phone calls, text messages and letters.
UES is joining utilities across North America this week in a campaign to
prevent long-running scams that target customers of electric, gas and
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water utility service providers. Scammers have contacted dozens of UES
gas and electric customers over the past year.
Here’s how the scam works: Callers who claim to work for UES attempt to
steal customers’ money by threatening to disconnect service for unpaid
bills or damaged electric meters. They tell customers to make payment
over the phone with a pre-paid money card within a limited amount of
time to avoid shut off. In some cases, callers instruct customers to
bring a money order or cashier’s check to a local pharmacy. In others,
scammers contact customers via text message or even registered letter.
Some scammers use ID spoofing software that disguises phone calls or
text messages to appear as though they’re coming from UES. The callers
may pressure customers to make large payments within a short amount of
time by using an angry or urgent tone of voice.
Customers should simply hang up, delete or ignore such communications.
UES does not employ the methods used by these scammers to collect
payments.
UES only contacts customers by phone with automated bill payment
reminders as a courtesy. Also, the company never urges customers to
purchase pre-paid money cards to pay a monthly bill. A complete list of
legitimate payment methods, including payment online and by phone, is
available on UES’ website at uesaz.com.
Customers with questions about their bill or concerns about the issues
described above are welcome to call UES’ Customer Care team at
877-837-4968.
UES provides electric service to approximately 93,000 customers in
Mohave and Santa Cruz Counties. The company also provides natural gas to
approximately 150,000 customers in Northern and Southern Arizona. To
learn more, visit uesaz.com.
UES and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc.,
which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across
Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. To learn more, visit fortisinc.com.
Contacts
UniSource Energy Services
Joseph Barrios, 520-884-3725