Watch out for a new scam that touts a federal program that will supposedly pay your utility bills. The program isn’t real. Instead, it’s a ploy by scammers to steal your personal financial information and your money.
The scammers tell you that to participate in the program, you need to provide your Social Security Number and bank account information. In return, they give you a bank account number that they claim will pay your utility bills—but the information is false and your utility bills haven’t really been paid. And now the scammers have all the information they need to steal your money and even open new accounts in your name.
People report that scammers have contacted them about the fake program in person and through flyers, text messages and social media. At least one utility company has already discovered that hundreds of its customers tried to pay their bills using the phony bank account number given out by the scammers.
Never agree to provide your Social Security Number, bank account number or other personal financial information to anyone who contacts you, no matter who they claim to be or how they claim they’ll help you.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office on our website or call us at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM toll-free within North Carolina.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.