COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – A Colorado Springs woman is working to prevent others from falling victim to electricity and gas bills.
Homeowner Eva Bentz, 64, is lucky after narrowly escaping exploitation from someone claiming to be from Colorado Springs Utilities.
“She said, ‘This is COS Utilities. Are you aware that there is a disconnection notice on your electricity account?’ I said no,” Bentz said.
The fake employee insisted that Bentz make an immediate payment using an 888 number or risk having her service cut off. Bentz said she knew the number was not the one on Colorado Springs Utilities’ website, but she was inclined to call the suspicious number they provided because the call came on the day her bill was due.
“And then the person answered ‘billing department’ and not Colorado Springs Utilities. That’s when I knew,” she said.
A spokesperson for Colorado Springs Utilities confirmed that this is not part of their bill collection process.
“As a municipal utility, we would never do something like this. We never threaten to interrupt service,” said Alex Trefry, spokesman for Colorado Springs Utilities.
Instead, Trefry said, customers will receive a notice in the mail and on their online accounts, and then someone from Colorado Springs Utilities will call them and inform them of the late bill.
“If they want to confirm the legitimacy of the call and make sure they work for Colorado Springs Utilities, they should hang up and call Colorado Springs Utilities,” Trefry said.
Bentz said she will follow that advice in the future and hopes others will, too.
“Just be skeptical. If it doesn’t sound right and you don’t know exactly who is calling you, just don’t give them any money,” Bentz said.
Visit the Colorado Springs Utilities website for a full list of ways to avoid someone posing as a utility worker trying to steal your money. If you believe you have been the victim of a similar incident, file a report with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
