Threats to Turn Off Water and Power Could Be the Work of Scammers

The phone conversation starts with something like this: “We’re with Commonwealth Edison, and you are delinquent in paying your electric bill. We’ve got some guys headed your way, and they’re going to shut off your power in the next hour if you don’t make a payment here by phone.”

The natural reaction to this kind of call is panic. It is a call designed to cause you stress and create a false sense of urgency. It is also almost certainly an out-and-out scam.

Threats to disconnect power, gas or water, often accompanied by demands for immediate payment, are common tactics used by scammers.

These scammers impersonate utility companies and pressure victims into providing personal information or sending money. Typically, fraudsters will demand payment via an unusual method like prepaid debit cards, third-party payment apps like Venmo or Zelle, or cryptocurrency, which are difficult to trace and recover.

While utility companies do have the right to shut off your electricity, gas or water, they are required by law to give you proper notice. In Illinois, these notices must be in writing, separate from bills, and sent by U.S. Mail or hand delivered.

The notice must clearly state the reason for disconnection, the amount due, and the date by which payment or a deferred payment agreement must be arranged to avoid disconnection. A 10-day notice period must be provided before disconnection. Additionally, during the winter months (December 1 to March 31), Illinois has a winter weather rule that protects eligible customers from disconnection if they use gas or electricity as their primary heat source.

According to the Better Business Bureau, scams have an estimated impact of $50 billion a year, hitting one in four households. Don’t be a victim. If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam:

• Don’t panic. Slow down and ask questions, like what their employee number is or confirming the date and amount of your most recent payment, or even better…
• Hang up and verify the legitimacy of the communication. Contact the utility company directly using their official contact information.
• Do not respond to text or email messages threatening to turn off your utilities. Don’t be tempted to try to outwit scammers. They want you to engage with them. Instead, just delete them.
• Never, ever give out personal or financial information—over the phone, in an email, or in a text to anyone you don’t personally know, and certainly never to an unsolicited caller.