Watch Out For Financial Scams

Unfortunately, in today’s world, financial scams are inevitable. Scammers can threaten you with everything from legal action involving the Internal Revenue Service to turning off power to your home.

Utility scams often involve an individual or group posing as an employee of your electric cooperative. The scammer may use threatening language to frighten you into offering your credit card or bank account information.

Do not fall victim to these types of scams. Understand the threats and your best course of action:

• If someone calls you demanding you pay your electric bill immediately, gather as much information as you can from that individual, hang up the phone and contact local authorities. Scammers often use threats and urgency to pressure you into giving them your bank account number or loading a prepaid credit or debit card. Benton REA will never ask you to provide personal financial information over the phone. If you have any doubts about your utility bill, call us at 509-786-2913.
• If someone comes to your home claiming to be an employee of Benton REA looking to collect money or inspect parts of your property, call to verify they are an employee. If they are not, call local authorities for assistance and do not let the individual into your home.
• Scam artists use phone numbers you recognize. Do not trust your caller ID. Never give away your financial information over the phone. 

There are other types of scams consumers should watch out for:

• Government agencies such as the IRS will never call to inform you of unpaid taxes or other liens against you. You will always receive this information in the mail. If someone calls claiming to be the IRS, hang up immediately.
• If you receive an email from an unknown sender, an email riddled with spelling errors and typos or an email threatening action unless a sum of money is paid, do not click any links provided within the email and do not respond to the email. Simply delete the email or send it to your spam folder.
• If someone calls your home claiming to have discovered a virus on your computer, hang up. This caller’s intent is to access personal information you keep on your computer.

Benton REA wants to make sure you avoid any and all scams that could put you or your financial information in jeopardy.