Greenwood Utilities and Delta Electric customers are being warned not to fall for a scam that promises them a $1,000 “Obama stimulus rebate.”
Capt. Melvin Andrews of the Greenwood Police Department said both utilities reported that customers have been called by con artists.
The perpetrators promise a $1,000 rebate if the person gives them a bank routing number, credit card number, Social Security number or other personal identifying information, he said. Andrews said not to give out such information over the phone.
In some cases, Greenwood Utilities customers have tried to repay their utility bills a second time in hopes that it will trigger the rebate, Andrews said.
The ruse has been going on statewide.
The Electric Power Associations of Mississippi and Attorney General Jim Hood have issued warnings urging utilities customers to use caution.
According to the Associated Press, another variation of the scam features a caller saying he represents a community action agency that will pay a person’s utility bills if that person sends part of the amount owed through PayPal or Western Union.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
