TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tucson Electric Power (TEP) reminds customers to protect themselves from
scammers who claim to work for TEP and try to solicit payments using
phone calls, text messages and letters.
TEP is joining utilities across North America this week in a campaign to
prevent long-running scams that target customers of electric, gas and
water utility service providers. Scammers have contacted more than 170
TEP customers over the past year, and more than a dozen were tricked
into sending them money.
Hereβs how the scam works: Callers who claim to work for TEP attempt to
steal customersβ 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 cashierβs 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 theyβre coming from TEP. 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.
TEP does not employ the methods used by these scammers to collect
payments.
TEP 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 TEPβs website at tep.com.
Customers with questions about their bill or concerns about the issues
described above are welcome to call TEPβs Customer Care team at (520)
623-7711.
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 417,000
customers in southern Arizona. To learn more, visit tep.com.
TEP 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
Tucson Electric Power
Joseph Barrios, 520-884-3725