Scammers continue to target utility customers. In 2024, Florida ranked first in the nation for fraud according to the FTC, highlighting a concerning trend of scammers using new tactics to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.
Companies including Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) are sharing do’s and don’ts to help Floridians avoid scams ahead of National Consumer Protection Week, which runs from March 2-8.
Scammers’ New Tactics
Scammers use advanced tactics to deceive people by pretending to be a legitimate company and requesting payment or personal information. Recently, scammers have started exploiting internet search results to display fake websites with misleading phone numbers. Victims end up speaking to agents who impersonate a company and try to extract sensitive information, including account and financial details.
How to Protect Yourself
FPL urges customers to recognize suspicious activity and use these scam prevention practices:
- Avoid online search for phone numbers. To contact FPL, call the number on your bill.
- Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers can manipulate the name to appear to be FPL.
- Hang up on suspicious callers. FPL will never demand immediate payment, ask customer to pay through Zelle or gift card or threaten immediate disconnection.
- Delete suspicious texts or emails asking for payment or personal information.
- Shut the door and call the police if a visitor without FPL identification tries to collect payment or aggressively sells you any products.
- If a customer suspects they have been targeted by a scam, they are advised to immediately report it to FPL and local law enforcement.
