Scam Awareness
With Florida Public Utilities scam awareness, stay informed about the latest scams targeting energy consumers. Plus, get the specific tips you need to recognize potential scammers, and important guidelines that will help you act accordingly.
Indications of popular scam activity include:
- The scammer – pretending to be a company representative – acts angry and tells the customer that his or her account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn’t made – usually within less than an hour.
- The scammer instructs the customer to purchase a prepaid cash card – such as a MoneyPak Card widely available at retail stores – then calls him or her back to use the card to supposedly make a payment to Florida Public Utilities.
- The scammer asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds.
To Protect Florida Public Utilities Customers
- Florida Public Utilities reminds customers that its representatives never ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card over the phone or in person.
- Customers with concerns regarding the legitimacy of a phone call about a past due bill, service request or request for personal information are encouraged to call Florida Public Utilities at 1.833.486.0773
- Customers with delinquent accounts will receive past due reminder notifications through the mail.
- Customers would never receive a phone notification one hour before disconnection of service.
- Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a Florida Public Utilities representative inside their home. Florida Public Utilities employees always carry their identification and are willing to show it to you.
- All Florida Public Utilities service personnel wear FPU attire branded with the company’s logo. If a person claiming to be a Florida Public Utilities employee has identification and you still feel uncomfortable, call FPU’s customer service line at 1.833.486.0773 to verify an appointment and/or the presence of FPU personnel in your community. If you feel threatened in any way, notify local law enforcement immediately.
How to Respond to Suspicious Activity
If you believe you’ve encountered a scammer posing as a Florida Public Utilities employee, or involving the name and likeness of another utility company, please take the following steps:
- Hang up the phone, or close the door.
- Call your utility company’s direct and verified phone number. You can find this number on your utility bill, as well as the company’s website.
- Do not give the caller or visitor a prepaid card, a wire transfer or any other form of payment that may be difficult for law enforcement to trace.
- Ignore suspicious requests for personal information, such as bank account numbers, user names and passwords, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers.
- Delete and block any emails from utilities that are not your service provider.
- Delete all suspicious emails that require immediate action to verify or provide personal information.
Report Fraud or Scams
If you have been the victim of a scam, please contact us by calling 1.833.486.0773. You can also contact the authorities listed below:
Federal Trade Commission (File a complaint online or call 1.877.382.4357)
Your Local Police Station
Your State Attorney General’s Office
Need Assistance?
To reach a Florida Public Utilities representative, call 1.833.486.0773 Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
