Scammers put a new and "scary" twist on old late utility bill swindle

It's a new twist on an old scam.

You haven't paid your power bill, a voice on the phone says. A utility workers is on the way right now to turn off your power. It will remain on, though, if you pay the bill with a prepaid debit card in a specified amount.

Then — in what Tacoma Public Utilities calls "a scary, and potentially dangerous approach" — the caller wants to meet in person, either at the meter box or a local business, to get the card.

Agency officials said nearly 200 people have contacted them in the last two days with concerns about the scam.

Among those recently called by a scam artist was an 89-year-old University Place woman. She didn't want to use her name because she's worried about being targeted for other scams, but contacted The News Tribune because she doesn't want anyone to fall for their tactics.

"They are very slick," she said.

She said she'd recently returned home after a hospital visit and felt "kind of dipsy" when she got the scammer's call.

She was taken aback when accused of not paying her bill. The caller said TPU had sent several notices about her past due amount. He kept her on the phone and talking, and told her to go to a local pharmacy to buy a prepaid card.

"He said you have to go right now because the crew is on its way," she said.

She asked how much she owed. Just short of $300, the man told her. Her bill normally isn't that high, so she realized something was up. Still, she's embarrassed the conversation continued so long.

"I thought, if I'm dumb enough to go along with it, then someone's really going to get stuck with it," she said.

TPU is working with the Tacoma police on the issue.

To keep customers from falling for the scam, the utility pointed out its employees will:

▪ Never call, email or make a home visit demanding immediate payment.

▪ Never request payment using a prepaid card.

▪ Never call, email, or make a home visit to request credit card, banking or financial information.

▪ Never shut off service without providing written notice at least seven days in advance.

This story was originally published June 26, 2018 at 5:54 PM.