Alliant Energy is warning their customers due their recent complaints that scammers are continuing to call Alliant Energy customers. Key Account Manager Mary Radl said in the most recent scenario, scammers threaten to disconnect service within an hour or two if a customer does not call back and provide payment with a Green Dot or other prepaid cash debit card. She also said business customers are currently being targeted more than residential customers. Radl said that Alliant Energy would not shut off service within an hour of the first communication, and never ask customers to purchase prepaid credit cards and/or make immediate payments with cash. She says hang up and call 1-800-255-4268 to verify your account status.
Radl said to be aware that:
- Scammers are now replicating their automated voice recording (IVR), so that when a customer calls the number provided by the scammer, it sounds like they are calling Alliant Energy.
- Scammers can spoof caller-ID displays, which means that they can mask the call’s true origin and make it appear as if it the call is coming from a utility company.
In cases like these, law enforcement say to not provide Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone who requests that information during an unsolicited phone call or an unannounced visit. To report a scam, contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.