The days are getting shorter and nights are getting colder and longer, at last Winters are finally here. As you enter winter, you start wondering about when you will receive a phone call regarding the cutting off of your electric and gas connections owing to unpaid dues. You cannot ignore the call, as you can’t afford a cold sleepless night with your family. Therefore, you will quickly answer all the callers questions and pay him immediately. Such are utility scams. Many complaints have been filed against utility scammers each year, in which people have lost considerable amounts of money. Here are few points to follow to avoid utility scams.

Blind Trust

Never trust your contractor or service provider blindly as they will not let go of any chance of fraud. For example, you have a maintenance contract with electrician north brisbane, for which you have already paid an advance amount, but they don’t visit for maintenance and overcharge you and when you come to find out and challenge them they show you your signed contract with their terms on it. Imagine the trouble that such a scenario will put you through. Therefore, do not blindly trust any utility provider. Before opting for service, you should have everything agreed upon and stated on the contract. 

Threaten to Disconnect 

Most of the utility scammers use calling at odd timings as a strategy to get through with the scam. They will tell you that your dues are unpaid, and unless they are immediately paid for the connection will be cut. They refuse to take any responsibility of the misunderstanding, if you insist that it is one. They put so much pressure that it finally breaks the target. If you are sure that you have paid your bills never listen to their fake calls even if they insist that no bill is paid. Don’t fall for the threats. 

Never Share Personal Information

Most of the cases scams are carried out on the internet using your legal information. The scammers find out general information about you that is already available on the internet and share that with you to gain your confidence. The caller will ask you then to confirm your pin or to answer your secret questions etc. Never share your password or any kind of pins with an unknown caller as it will become a scary nightmare for you. 

Unusual Payment Methods 

To avoid being scammed it is important to know about different tricks scammers use. Did the caller ask you to pay by any unusual methods for example crypto currency and gift cards etc? If you get such a request via call try contacting your contractor on their official helpline or email, usually stated on the bill. Report to the concerned authorities about such kinds of calls so that the occurrence of such scams can be reduced. 

Fake Utility Worker

Scammers will often act like utility workers and directly come to your house for routine inspection and maintenance. Here is where they will find a fault in your system which according to them must be rectified immediately. They scare you by telling you that you will suffer more in terms of loss of equipment and money. They will just charge you for a fake service or by selling you things you don’t need. Therefore always reconfirm such kinds of visits from your utility service provider before allowing the representatives in.