Energy companies, Better Business Bureau warn against utility scams

Energy customers are warned not to get burned as temperatures drop this winter.

Eversource and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) expect to see a rise in utility scams during the coming weeks as more scammers become increasingly sophisticated in the way they find unique schemes to take advantage of people.

Scam artists — often sounding legitimate — may threaten to shut off electric service immediately unless instant payment is made, or could claim the customer overpaid a utility bill and request personal bank account or credit card information to give a refund. Penni Conner, executive vice president of customer experience and energy strategy at Eversource, said someone suggesting you pay a bill immediately with a prepaid debit card should be an automatic “red flag.”

“Scammers are constantly changing their tactics to take advantage of unsuspecting customers and prey on people when…