News Release > Entergy Texas recognizes Utility Scam Awareness Day, offers tips to stop scams
For Immediate Release
11/15/2023
This yr’s theme is “Screen the Search” to mirror the upward thrust of virtual scams
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Entergy Texas is proud to sign up for Utilities United Against Scams to acknowledge the 8th annual Utility Scam Awareness Day on Wednesday, November 15, all through International Fraud Awareness Week. Utility Scam Awareness Day is an advocacy marketing campaign fascinated by exposing scams concentrated on application shoppers. This yr’s theme is “Screen the Search” to mirror the pervasiveness of seek engine scams.
“At Entergy Texas, we put the safety and well-being of our customers at the center of everything we do,” stated Stuart Barrett, vice chairman of purchaser carrier for Entergy Texas. “Unfortunately, utility imposters use a variety of tactics to try and deceive our customers. As technology continues to advance, so do the scams, so we encourage our customers stay alert.”
Nationwide losses to industry imposters – scammers who falsely declare affiliations with well known corporations like depended on utilities – soared in 2022, in accordance to the Federal Trade Commission. Reported losses totaled $660 million, up from $453 million the former yr.
Here are 5 not unusual scams and tips to give protection to your self:
- Search engine scams: Watch out for convincing, however fraudulent, web pages that appear to be ours whilst you seek for it on-line. Always ascertain that you’re the usage of our professional website online, entergytexas.com, and our professional buyer portal, myEntergy.com, to behavior industry.
- Cash transaction app scams: Don’t take a look at to pay your Entergy invoice thru third-party money transaction apps like Cash App, Venmo or Zelle. To evaluation our approved cost strategies, discuss with myentergy.com/s/makepayment.
- Fake caller ID presentations: Don’t depend on caller ID presentations; criminals can falsify them to conceal themselves as Entergy representatives. Always ascertain an unknown caller’s id thru independent verification.
- Threats to disconnect: Beware of threats to disconnect your application carrier for those who don’t supply instant cost. We by no means call for instant cost or bring to an end carrier with out really extensive advance caution.
- False overpayment scams: Beware of scammers who declare they would like to come up with a “refund” for an alleged Entergy invoice overpayment. Use verified channels like myEntergy, or contact us directly, to ascertain the standing of your account.
While a ways much less not unusual, in-person scammers continuously declare they want get entry to to your private home to supply upkeep, be offering unfastened inspections or repair energy first following an outage or disconnect in alternate for an prematurely cost. We by no means call for or settle for cost to repair your energy, and we will be able to name you or supply written understand if we’d like to get entry to your private home. If you’re unsure, touch us at once to test whether or not an Entergy carrier consultant must be on-site.
If you fall sufferer to a rip-off, record it to Entergy Texas, your financial institution or monetary establishment and the right kind government, together with the native police, state lawyer basic’s place of job, Better Business Bureau or FTC. Document all main points, equivalent to receipts, names, web pages, telephone numbers or e-mail addresses, related to the crime.
Entergy Texas is a proud member of United Utilities Against Scams, a consortium of greater than 150 U.S. and Canadian electrical, water and herbal gasoline utilities and their respective industry associations which can be devoted to preventing application imposter scams. With the help of buyer studies, UUAS has helped disconnect greater than 14,020 toll-free numbers that scammers used to goal application shoppers.
Visit entergy.com/scams for added sources on new and evolving threats.
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