Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Since You Asked: Canned corn OK for fishing, not for chumming ... Last hours of armed standoff play out online for listeners ... UPDATED: Oregon Senate approves bill to increase minimum wage ... Since You Asked: Canned corn OK for fishing, not for chumming ... Last hours of armed standoff play out online for listeners ... UPDATED: Oregon Senate approves bill to increase minimum wage ... PHONE SCAMS Pacific Power warns customers of scam billing calls Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM » Social News A classic method of bilking unwitting Pacific Power customers out of their money is seeing a surge in the Pacific Northwest. The utility company said scammers typically call homes or businesses demanding payment for alleged overdue bills. The phone scam has affected a "relatively small number of customers" thus far, a news release reported. "Sometimes, the caller tells the intended victim that they owe a specific amount of money," the release says. "The thief then typically advises the customer to make a payment by going to a local store to purchase a pre-paid (debit) card and provide the pre-paid card's code to the phony 'agent.'" Company spokesman Ry Schwark said customers in Coos Bay and Astoria recently reported being hit, but parts of southwest Oregon could be next. "I t tends to bounce around the area for a short period of time before (they) move to a different area of the country,” Schwark said. "They can be extremely aggressive with people they call up." Company officials are urging anyone who receives such a call to hang up the phone, then call the utility company at 1-888-221-7070. Officials said real representatives who call will have customer account information ready. Customers who still feel uncomfortable and are uncertain about the call's validity can tell the representative they would prefer to call back. Pacific Power also encouraged victims to pay attention to small details, including any phone numbers they are asked to call with the pre-paid debit card information, numbers that appear on caller ID, or where they are told to send money. That said, officials said scammers can sometimes use "sophisticated deceptive tactics" that make it look like the scam call is actually coming from the utility company, when it is not. "Any customer being taken advantage of in this way is one too many," Pacific Power customer service director Valerie Smith said in a prepared statement. "We encourage any customer who has been contacted in this manner to report the contact to local law enforcement." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501