Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) is partnering with police and sheriff’s departments across northeast and north central Wisconsin to share the warning signs of utility scams. The goal is to blanket social media with this important message so no one else becomes a victim.
Pay attention to these red flags
Scammers are relentless. They may:
- Pretend to be from WPS by spoofing caller ID to display “Wisconsin Public Service” or using a recording that sounds authentic.
- Threaten to turn off your energy in a short amount of time.
- Demand immediate payment — often with a prepaid debit card, third-party app like Zelle or Venmo, or an unusual payment method such as cryptocurrency.
- Buy sponsored posts on search engines using the WPS name. Be careful — scammers use these to get you to call a fake phone number and share sensitive information.
- Show up at your door and refuse to show ID.
What you can do
If you think a scammer is targeting you, hang up or close the door! 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 or to verify if someone at your door is a WPS employee. Contact your local law enforcement if you’ve fallen victim to a scam.
Share our scam awareness message on X, Facebook and Instagram to join the effort.
For more warning signs, go to the WPS website.