HARRISBURG, Pa., July 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- As temperatures rise and utility bills follow suit,
AARP Pennsylvania is warning residents about a surge in utility
scams targeting older adults. These scams often increase during the
summer months when higher energy usage makes utility bills more
significant, providing an opportunity for fraudsters to
exploit.
Watch AARP Pennsylvania Fraud Watch Alert about
Utility Scams on YouTube.
Mary Bach, AARP Pennsylvania
Volunteer and Chair of the Consumer Issues Task Force, emphasizes
the importance of staying vigilant. "Scammers are becoming
increasingly sophisticated, often posing as utility company
representatives to deceive individuals into providing personal
information or making payments. It's crucial to be aware of these
tactics and to verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited contact
regarding your utilities."
Utility scams can take various forms, including phone calls,
emails, or even in-person visits. Common tactics involve threats of
immediate service disconnection unless payment is made or offers of
significant discounts on utility bills if personal information is
provided. AARP Pennsylvania
advises residents to always contact their utility company directly
using the number on their bill to verify any claims.
A recent AARP poll found Pennsylvania voters 50 and older are
increasingly concerned about fraud and scams.
When asked how concerned they are about the issue of
fraud through tactics like robo-calls, phishing emails
or other scams that could negatively impact them and their
families, 62% of voters 50+ say they are very concerned. This is an
issue that transcends political affiliation, with voters of all
political stripes expressing concern.
David Kalinoski, AARP Associate
State Director, stresses the importance of education and caution.
"We urge everyone to stay informed and cautious. Never give out
personal or financial information to unsolicited callers. Utility
companies typically send several notices before disconnecting
service and will never demand immediate payment over the
phone."
AARP Pennsylvania offers
resources and tools to help protect against utility scams,
including free educational seminars, fraud prevention
tips, and access to the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
Residents are encouraged to visit the AARP Pennsylvania website for
more information and to report any suspicious activity.
You can sign up for free, biweekly Watchdog Alerts to have
information on the latest scams delivered right to your phone. Text
FWN to 50757.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP,
call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Pennsylvania
Fraud Resource Page at
aarp.org/pafraud.
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to
choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP
strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the
more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health
security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also
works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions
and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services
to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and
information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation
publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more,
visit
www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or
follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social
media.
Contact: TJ Thiessen | tthiessen@aarp.org |
717-381-7420
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SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania