Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) and law enforcement across northeast and north central Wisconsin are teaming up to protect customers from con artists.
On Oct. 20, police and sheriff’s departments across the area are joining WPS to share the warning signs of utility scams on social media. The goal is to flood newsfeeds with this important safety information.
Scammers may:
- Pretend to be from WPS. They may even manipulate caller ID to make it look like WPS is calling or leave a recorded message that sounds like it’s from the company.
- Threaten to turn off your energy right away.
- Demand immediate payment — often by prepaid debit card, third-party apps like Zelle or Venmo, or unusual payment methods such as bitcoin. WPS will never do that.
Over the years, WPS customers have lost thousands of dollars in utility scams. If you think a scammer is targeting you, hang up! It’s not rude; it’s safe.
Call WPS at 800-450-7260 if you have questions about a call, email or text you’ve received, and contact your local law enforcement if you’ve fallen victim to a scam.
Share our scam awareness message on Twitter and Facebook to join the effort.
For more warning signs, visit the WPS website.