A new report from the FBI reveals that seniors misplaced $4.8 billion to scammers in 2024. Florida, house to nearly 5 million seniors, ranked third within the nation for the variety of complaints and complete losses per sufferer.
Utility scams are on the rise. These contain individuals impersonating respectable utility firm representatives to steal cash or private data. These scams usually contain pressing threats of service disconnection if fee is just not made instantly, or they might use misleading techniques like providing pretend power effectivity audits or inspecting for a fuel leak.
How Utility Scams Work:
Scammers will name or seem at your door, claiming you’ve an overdue invoice and threatening to disconnect your service (energy, fuel, water) in the event you don’t pay instantly.
Scammers might ship pretend emails that seem like respectable utility payments, attempting to trick you into clicking on malicious hyperlinks or offering your data.
“Slamming” Scams contain somebody providing a greater power charge after which switching your service to a special provider with out your information.
Overpayment scams contain a scammer claiming you overpaid and asking for financial institution or bank card data to situation a refund.
Florida Energy and Mild Firm (FPL) says it continually notifies its clients and provides them suggestions for avoiding frequent utility scams.
FPL gives a number of recommendations on what to search for.
Keep away from on-line seek for telephone numbers. To contact FPL, name the quantity in your invoice.
Don’t belief caller ID. Scammers can manipulate the identify to seem like FPL.
Grasp up on suspicious callers. FPL won’t ever demand speedy fee, ask clients to pay via Zelle or present card or threaten speedy disconnection.
Delete suspicious texts or emails asking for fee or private data.
Shut the door and name the police if a customer with out FPL identification tries to gather fee or aggressively sells you any merchandise.
If a buyer suspects a rip-off has focused them, they’re suggested to report it to FPL and native regulation enforcement instantly. In case of telephone or digital scams, clients also needs to file a criticism with the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) and Florida’s state shopper safety company.
