Yesterday (Monday), MidAmerican Energy took a stance against scammers and launched the “Slam the Scam” campaign to raise awareness after receiving approximately 100 reports each month on energy-related scams. Already this year, customers have reported losing nearly $9,000 to scams and MidAmerican’s Vice President of Customer Satisfaction, Terry Ousley, says they are putting out a simple message. If you receive a questionable call or if someone suspicious shows up at your home or business, slam down the phone or slam the door and immediately call MidAmerican Energy to check on your account. They also recommend calling local authorities to report the attempt. Scammers are bold, aggressive and use sophisticated tactics, and though the calls can’t be stopped, educating customers will help ensure their attempts are unsuccessful. One of the biggest red flags to indicate a scam is the caller demanding payment in the form of a credit card or prepaid debit card, and demanding payments be made quickly, sometimes in less than an hour. MidAmerican does not accept prepaid debit cards as a payment option and does not ask for credit card information over the phone. If someone is behind on payments, Ousley said, they will receive several notifications, including a notice in the mail, before disconnection takes place. If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, contact MidAmerican Energy at 888-427-5632.
