NOVEC warns consumers to beware of scam artists, particularly on the phone

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative warns all consumers to be alert to anyone who calls them, claims to represent NOVEC, and directs them to pay bills with a specific prepaid debit card. The Co-op says the caller is a scammer.

In the last couple of years NOVEC has received a number of reports of phone-scam attempts. So have businesses throughout the nation. Several reports to NOVEC have come from people who live in Maryland and West Virginia – far from NOVEC’s service territory.

On March 25, 2014, a NOVEC employee who lives outside of the Co-op’s territory received an automated call. Caller ID indicated that the call was from her electricity provider. The message said her bill was overdue and instructed her to purchase a prepaid debt card, then call back and provide the number on the card.

“I knew it was a scammer,” the employee said, “because my payments are electronically transferred from my bank automatically each month. And I know criminals are trying to con people by making them afraid that their power will be cut off if they don’t follow instructions and pay right away.” She reported the scam attempt to her utility company.

In 2013, the Virginia Attorney General’s office warned Virginians to be alert to scam phone calls. The office said people who are called are told to purchase a Green Dot Visa card, MoneyPak, or other pre-paid debit card and make a payment over the phone.

The AG’s office noted that scammers are apparently targeting Spanish-speaking and elderly people in particular, and businesses.

As in the March 25 call, scammers are “spoofing” utility companies’ phone numbers so that customers who have Caller ID will see the name of their utility provider on their phones. 

In another attempt, a NOVEC customer said a caller who claimed to be from the Co-op told the customer to pay $950 right away to avoid a service interruption. The caller told the customer to put the money on a pre-paid debit card.

“NOVEC does not do business this way,” says Pam Ringel, customer service supervisor.

“We’re advising Co-op members to call customer service at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500 to verify their account information after receiving any suspicious call or text message, even if the number displayed on their phones is NOVEC’s. We’re also advising them to contact the police or report the incident to a consumer affairs bureau.”

Ringel says, “NOVEC sometimes places automated courtesy phone calls to remind customers that their accounts are past due, but the messages never ask for Social Security, credit card, debit card, or bank account numbers, or give a dollar amount that a customer must pay. Nor do the messages tell customers what payment method to use. Furthermore, the calls are made by an interactive telephone system and not by a NOVEC employee. So the customer is never speaking with a person.”

Protect yourself and your family

Always attempt to verify the identity of a caller who claims to represent a business.

Do not provide money or personal information to an unsolicited caller whose identity cannot be verified.

Do not make a payment by purchasing a Green Dot card or other means when told to do so.

If using a MoneyPak, never give your MoneyPak number or receipt information to someone you don’t know. Use MoneyPak only to reload prepaid cards or accounts you control.

Always take time making a decision. Legitimate companies don’t pressure customers to make snap decisions.

If you received a suspicious call and made a payment to the scammer, report it to the local police, or to state or federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission.
About NOVEC

NOVEC, headquartered in Manassas, Va., is a not-for-profit electric utility corporation that supplies and distributes electricity and energy-related services to more than 154,000 customers in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and Clarke counties, the Town of Clifton, and the City of Manassas Park. It is one of the largest electric companies of its kind in the nation. For more information, visit http://www.novec.com or call 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500.