The American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP, is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization in the US that strives to meet the needs and interests of individuals 50 years of age and older. AARP recently issued a warning about a utility scam that is taking place in Maryland:
Scammers impersonating the utility company have arrived along with the summer heat. Someone may contact or email you to threaten to cut off your electricity because you haven’t paid your bills. Since air conditioning is necessary due to the high temperatures, these crooks utilize fear to coerce you into taking quick action.
They can request money right away via wire transfers, gift cards, or smartphone apps. Legitimate utility companies don’t demand odd payment methods or threaten abrupt disconnection without warning. Use the number from your bill, not the one the caller gives you, to get in touch with your utility company immediately if you receive a threat like this.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that fraud-related theft might reach $158.3 billion in a single year. To put this into context, fraud would rank among the top 40 companies in the US by revenue. According to the AARP, fraudsters steal $434 million per day, or over $300,000 every minute, from Americans.
