How to Spot and Avoid Scams

If someone calls or texts you claiming to be from FreeState and says your service will be cut off if you don’t pay immediately, this is a scam. FreeState will never call and demand immediate payment over the phone. We will always identify ourselves, and we will never demand payment using a prepaid gift card, or an unusual payment platform.

Utility scams are on the rise and becoming much more common. Learn how to protect yourself. Beware of these common scam tactics:

• Disconnection threats: Scammers claim your service will be cut off without immediate payment.
• Caller ID spoofing: Scammers use software to make their calls appear legitimate.
• Overpayment claims: They may say you’ve overpaid and ask for personal or banking information to issue a refund.
• Phishing attempts: Beware of emails or texts that look like bills; always verify the sender’s email before clicking links.

If you have any doubt about the status of your electric service, call us at 800-794-1989 and press zero to talk to one of our member service representatives.

Red flags to watch out for:

• High-pressure tactics that demand urgent action.
• Unusual payment method requests (wire transfer, gift cards, reloadable cards or cryptocurrency).
• Poor grammar, misspellings and suspicious email addresses.
• Utility scammers can create sophisticated and convincing frauds that are hard for consumers to recognize and avoid.
• Scammers can craft convincing emails that appear to be from legitimate companies and include the use of company colors and logos.
• Scammers create realistic-looking utility company websites that are nearly indistinguishable from legitimate ones.
• Scammers create geographically targeted online ads that appear when users search for keywords related to their energy bills.
• Scammers have resources to launch large-scale utility scam campaigns quickly and efficiently.

Here are some tips to protect yourself:

• Take your time: Don’t rush into payments or action.
• Verify any communication by calling us directly using the number on your bill.
• Never share personal information. Legitimate companies won’t ask for sensitive details over the phone.
• If someone claims to be from FreeState, you can request official identification.

If you suspect a scam, report it to FreeState as soon as you can. As reports come in we can often warn other members quickly that something is not right.

Remember, FreeState will always provide multiple notices before disconnection and will not pressure you for immediate payment. If you are in doubt, let us know so we can take proactive measures to both protect you and others from becoming victims.

As always you can call us at 800-794-1989 and press zero to talk to one of our member service representatives. We’re here to help.