FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES
SPOKANE – Officials at Avista Utilities are warning customers of attempts to trick them into providing financial information to individuals portraying themselves as company employees.
In a May 19 news release, the utility said individuals impersonating Avista employees or a contractor contact customers either in-person or via the telephone and demand to speak to the customer about their bill. Hundreds of customers in the utility’s Washington and Idaho service area have reported the scam this week.
Activity that should raise red flags about possible scams include harsh, threatening language demanding immediate payment for an overdue bill; inability of the caller or individual to provide specific customer account activity details and instructions for customers to purchase a prepaid debit, credit or check card to make payment — often Green Dot or Money Pak. Also of consideration are instructions to call back and provide the prepaid card details, which activates the card and funds, and instructions for the customer to call any phone number other than Avista’s customer service line.
To protect yourself from a scam, customers should not provide any personal or financial information to any unknown person or company and should hang up on suspicious callers and contact Avista directly to verify the actual status of an account or service. This includes calls that appear to be from Avista as “spoofing” technology can make numbers appear legitimate.
Customers should also not allow anyone into their home who they do not know or who has not made an appointment with them. Customers should also ask to see the mandatory Avista identification badge which all of the utility’ employees carry, as well as its contractors.
Avista officials ask customers to be on alert for these scams at all times and to contact the utility to report any suspicious requires or interactions.
Officials also said that Avista has stopped all utility disconnects as a response to the current COVID-19 crisis.
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