OKANOGAN, Wash. – Several utility fraud schemes have swept the nation in recent months and most recently targeting Okanogan PUD customers. Our customers have received phone calls with the caller, posing as an Okanogan PUD employee, asking for immediate bill payment with a credit card or prepaid cash card. This communication soon becomes aggressive with the caller threatening to disconnect the person’s electric service.

Recent fraud/scam attempts also involve pop-up windows on your personal computer stating that participation in a survey you will give you an Okanogan PUD rebate or cash reward. One final scheme involves emails received from what appears to be the Okanogan PUD, stating a past due amount being delinquent and directing the user to click a link or call a given phone number.

High pressure scam artists may attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers with very aggressive, optimistic and potentially false and misleading statements. To protect yourself, please remain alert when messages come across the internet or phone calls come through that do not make sense. Do not click on the link or give out any personal information by computer or by phone.

If you receive a pop-up message on your computer or a personal phone call and feel your account information has been compromised, call the Okanogan PUD at 509-422-3310 to verify the status of your account. You may also report suspicious calls or emails to the lead agencies investigating nationwide scams: The Washington State Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-551-4636, the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 or the Internet Crimes Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Okanogan PUD offers the following SAFE advice to residential and business customers:

• Secure your personal information: Okanogan PUD will never call, threaten or demand credit or debit card numbers or ask for personal information in order to prevent a service disconnect.

• Always remember you have bill payment options: Okanogan PUD offers customers a variety of official payment options. Visit our website at www.okanoganpud.org for online bill pay options and budget pay information. Please call 509-422-3310 if you have questions regarding those options or need additional payment information.

• First check with Okanogan PUD if you are suspicious: Customers who receive a suspicious phone call, email or letter from the utility should call Okanogan PUD, which will always verify official communications. To obtain verification call 509-422-3310.

• Elect to speak to an Okanogan PUD representative: If you receive phone calls from the Okanogan PUD and you feel that the call is a scam, please hang up and call the main phone number to confirm you are speaking with a representative of the PUD. The phone number to use is 509-422-3310.

Keeping our ratepayers safe is of the utmost importance. As scams are discovered, the Okanogan PUD will post current information on our website, www.okanoganpud.org.