HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - State officials are warning families about new developments in utility shut-off scams including the use of obtained personal information over the internet and scammers posing as utility employees in person.
Attorney General William Tong said he has received reports that scammers are targeting people that are financially struggling and therefore vulnerable.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in their scams, officials said, including looking up personal information online to use in a phone call to make their scam seem more credible. Impostors will also go to a person's house posing as a utility employee in order to gain access into the home, so another person will go inside while the homeowner is distracted to steal valuables, according to President and CEO of Connecticut Water, Maureen Westbrook.
Tong said there have also been reports last year of scammers getting private information such as accurate account numbers and delinquent bills. "Our office is investigating how these scammers may have accessed important information about consumers," Tong said.
With impostor scams on the rise according to AARP CT data, it is important that Connecticut residents are educated about what these scammers are doing and what can be done when contacted by a scammer, AARP CT State Director Nora Duncan said.
According to officials, utility companies will not demand immediate payment to prevent shut-off over the phone in Connecticut.
Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Marissa Gillett said there is a moratorium in place in the state in which utilities cannot turn off heating in homes during the winter season. The moratorium is in place until May 1, Gillett said.
State officials encourage those who have been contacted by a scammer to report it through the Department of Consumer Protection or through the Office of the Attorney General.