OPPD says it received an increased number of people calling after receiving scam calls on Thursday.
The utility said it got more than 30 calls from people being contacted with false attempts to collect money.
Below is the full warning from OPPD:
We are receiving an increased number of customer reports of utility scam phone calls this afternoon. So far, more than 30 customers have called Omaha Public Power District to check on the callers’ false claims that their bills were overdue. Unfortunately, at least one of them paid the scammers.
This long-running con targets customers of utilities here in our area and across the nation. Scammers typically try to convince their targets that they are overdue on bills or need to pay for some sort of equipment. The callers provide instructions to buy a gift card or pre-paid credit card of some sort to settle up. Otherwise, they claim, power will be disconnected.
The scam calls we’re hearing about today are spoofing local area codes and even, in some cases, OPPD’s call center number. If you receive one of these phone calls, hang up. Dial OPPD directly at 402-536-4131. Only by calling us yourself can you be assured you are talking to an actual utility representative.
Callers can be quite aggressive and threatening in their tone. Here are some of the other ways they may try to con customers out of money:
Misleading messages
Text messaging customers to try and get money.
Asking customers to pay using a cash app.
Robocall robbery
Using...
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