OGDEN -- The Utah Department of Commerce and Rocky Mountain Power are warning Utahns to be aware of a scam that offers credit to their utility bills.
Jennifer Bolton, the commerce department's public information officer, said scammers are posing as Rocky Mountain Power customer service agents or attorneys and telling elderly consumers that, under a grant authorized by President Obama, they can receive a utility bill credit or have their bills paid directly.
The potential victims are told they must provide their social security, credit card or check routing number before they receive the credit.
Some of the scammers hand out flyers in person, while others use social media or text messaging, or contact consumers by phone, Bolton said.
"If someone tells you that the President of the United States will help you pay your utility bills, it's simply not true," said Francine Giani, executive director of the commerce department. "As we've said before, be skeptical of any phone call or text message without verifying it."
Some customers who have received the calls have been told their electricity will be disconnected if they don't provide their credit card information.
"These people are thieves and are in no way associated with our company," said Karen Gilmore, RMP's vice president of customer service.
Gilmore said RMP employees always wear identification badges when performing work in the field and all RMP vehicles are marked with the company's name or logo.
If those items aren't visible, the customer should be skeptical, Gilmore said.
If a customer has any doubts that a visitor or caller represents RMP, they should call 1-888-221-7070 to confirm the person's identity before proceeding with any transaction.
Gilmore also said that if RMP contacts a customer, the representative will always have the customer's account number.
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