Be scam aware

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Posted on Mar 22 2018 in LaGrange County REMC

LaGrange County REMC
Meter Technician Gary Grogg displays the uniform of REMC employees.

Your phone rings. You glance at the caller ID, and it shows the call is coming from LaGrange County REMC. When you pick up the phone, the caller identifies himself as an REMC employee and says you have an overdue bill, and if you don’t pay it immediately, your power will be cut off. Don’t be caught off guard. This is a scam!

Utility scams often involve an individual or group posing as an employee of your electric cooperative. Scammers often use threats and urgency to pressure you into giving them your bank account number or may attempt to bully you into purchasing a particular prepaid card and giving them the number.

  • If someone calls you and demands you to pay your electric bill immediately to avoid immediate disconnect, gather as much information as you can from the caller. Then hang up the phone and call us at 877-463-7165. We will reassure you of the status of your account.
  • If someone comes to your home claiming to be a LaGrange County REMC employee and asks to collect money or inspect parts of your property, do not let them in without seeing proper ID. All LaGrange County REMC employees have an identification card verifying their employment with the cooperative and/or wear uniforms (see photo at right) and drive vehicles with the LaGrange County REMC logo. If in doubt, ask to see their ID or call the REMC to verify this person is an employee.

Other types of scams to beware of:

  • If you receive an email from an unknown sender, an email riddled with spelling errors and typos or threatening action unless a sum of money is paid, do not click any links within the email and do not reply. Simply delete the email or send it to your spam folder.
  • If someone calls you claiming to have discovered a virus on your computer, hang up. This caller wants to access personal information you may be keeping on your computer.

LaGrange County REMC wants to help you avoid all types of scams. Remember to keep your personal and financial information safe. We will never call to tell you we are about to disconnect your power or ask for your personal financial information.

If you’ve been a victim of a scammer or think you’ve been contacted by one, please notify the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department or your local sheriff’s department immediately.