ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The AARP is advising residents of a fraud alert surrounding dropping temperatures as criminals turn up the heat on their deceptive skills.
According to the AARP, scammers are posing as representatives for a utility company and telling residents they have missed payments. They threaten to shut off heating services unless you immediately pay.
Scammers usually try to cause panic, which makes it harder to think logically and easier to complete the payment. If you receive a random call from claiming to be from a “utility” company threatening to turn off services, it is advised that you end the call.
It is important to verify utility payments, therefore make sure to contact your provider using the customer service number on a recent bill. You can also log into your providers website or app if you have that option.
Report scammers to local law enforcement and visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.