Dominion Virginia Power is warning customers to be alert for scammers who call and threaten to disconnect electrical service immediately if payment is not made.
“Dominion does not take payment over the phone and never asks for immediate payment of cash, PayPal, ‘MoneyPak/Green Dot’ or any prepaid debit card as a prerequisite to keeping lights on,” the company said in a press release.
– Don’t fall for threats of disconnection of service in exchange for immediate payment
– Report suspicious activity to local police or call Dominion at 866-DOM-HELP (866-366-4357)
– Scammers are targeting small businesses at busy and hectic times
“Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to trick citizens, including caller ID technology that makes it appear as though calls are coming from the utility, even instructing customers to make payment at company offices in order to sound legitimate,” said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, who is working with the company to pursue the scammers. “That option isn’t usually feasible to a customer, so the scammer pushes the option of payment over the phone. Consumers need to remember that a legitimate business will not operate this way. They should resist any pressure, and if they’re unsure about the legitimacy of a call, request an invoice in writing or hang up and contact the company directly to check on your account.”
“Awareness is the first step to protecting oneself from becoming a victim,” the company said. They provided these tips:
Stay calm. Scammers may contact businesses during a hectic or busy time to catch them off guard.
Dominion Virginia Power will never ask for payment over the phone or require payment on a pre-paid debit card.
Dominion does not direct customers to make payment at any of their offices; designated payment centers can be found online at https://www.dom.com/residential/dominion-virginia-power/customer-service/payment-options.
If a customer is behind on his/her bill, Dominion typically sets up a payment plan mutually agreed upon and provides a customer with multiple notifications in writing before power is scheduled to be disconnected.
If a customer is suspicious, they are encouraged to collect information from the scammer such as his/her name, any phone numbers or other details before hanging up and reporting to local law enforcement.
Customers should always call Dominion at 866-DOM-HELP to verify that the company is attempting to reach them before releasing any personal information.
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