Scammers Are Targeting Businesses and Customers Demanding Immediate Payment
Colchester, VT – Green Mountain Power is warning customers about a bill payment phone scam that threatens customers with disconnection within the hour if they do not pay immediately. Customers received calls claiming to be from GMP and giving the customer a fake toll-free number to call, which is answered by a recording claiming to be Green Mountain Power.
These calls are not from Green Mountain Power, and customers should hang up if they receive a call with such demands. If customers have any questions about their account status, they should call the authorized phone number for GMP, 888.TEL.GMPC (888.835.4672).
“Customers should be very wary of giving any information out over the phone unless they initiate the call,” said Kristin Carlson, vice president strategic and external affairs. “Customers should know we will never demand immediate payment through credit cards or pre-paid cards.”
Customers receiving any call with these demands should follow these steps:
– Do not provide payment or any other personal information;
– Do not engage with the caller;
– Immediately hang up;
– Do not call back the number; and
– Call GMP Customer Service at 888-835-4672 to report what happened and share any information you are able to provide, including name of the caller, caller’s phone number, and substance of the call.
Customers are encouraged to report this scam by contacting the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Consumer Assistance Program at 800.649.2424 (in-state only) or 802.656.3183 (from out of state numbers) or by visiting www.uvm.edu/consumer. GMP encourages customers to sign up for the recently-launched Attorney General’s Office Scam Alert program by visiting this web address where subscribers may opt to receive scam and fraud alerts from the by text message, email, or phone.
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