A new scam is making the rounds. You may be contacted by phone, text message, email or someone may show up at your door posing as a utility company representative or an employee with the energy division of your local government.
They tell you that they are offering free home energy audits and that you can save money on your utility bills by using the discounts and services they offer or by installing energy efficient devices in your home.
They may ask to tour your home to perform an inspection.
Often, they are wearing an official looking uniform and may even present identification.
You might also receive a phone call or text message. The number may look like it is from an actual government agency or utility company. They use spoofing which causes the caller ID to display a phone number or other information that appears legitimate.
You could also receive an official looking email message with a link to schedule a free audit.
Victims of this scam may have allowed these criminals into their home and paid for the services and devices they are offering.
This is dangerous because if they have had access to your home it can lead to burglary or home invasion in the future and if you signed a contract or made a purchase from them, they not only have your payment information but other personal information as well which can lead to financial loss and identity theft.
How to avoid the scam
Never respond to text messages from numbers you don’t know.
Hang up the phone immediately when anyone calls trying to sell you anything or gather any kind of information from you.
Never allow anyone into your home you do not know. Even if they seem official or present an ID. Fake ID’s are easy to come by.
Never respond to an email or click on a link in an email message that is suspicious. If you are unsure call the company directly.
Never provide your Social Security number, credit card number, banking information or any other personal information to anyone requesting it over the phone, by email or in person.
Never send money or payments to anonymous callers.
Steps to take if you have been the victim of a scam
Report a scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
Report to your State Consumer Protection Office.
State Consumer Protection Office
Call your local police department to report the scam and file a police report.
If the scammers are posing as a utility company, contact that company to report the scam.
If you have not already done so place a security freeze on all of your credit reports. This can be done online through the three major credit bureaus, Transunion, Equifax and Experian.
Request a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus, space the copies out between the three over the next year. It may take time for fraudulent activity to show up on your reports. By spacing the reports out, you can catch errors early and errors that may take some time to show up. If errors are found report those to the agencies. You are entitled to a free annual copy of your credit report with all three credit bureaus.
Place a fraud alert on your account with all three credit bureaus.
Contact the creditors and financial institutions you do business with. Let them know that your accounts may have been compromised. They can refer you to their fraud department who can help you take the appropriate steps to secure your accounts.
Change all usernames, passwords and security questions for the websites you visit.
If the scammer had access to your home, take inventory to ensure nothing is missing and check that all windows and doors are locked and secure. If they unlocked or tampered with an entry point into your home, they can gain access.
Keep a record of all steps you take to report and document the scam.
Many utility companies do offer legitimate free energy audits, but they will not show up unannounced at your door, call you or send you a text message.
If you want to schedule an energy audit, call your utility company directly.
The Tech Minimalist 