Chattanooga Gas offers tips to protect customers on Utility Scam Awareness Day

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – November 15, 2023 – With utility scams on the rise, it is more important than ever for customers to know how to spot and protect themselves from these scams. Chattanooga Gas joins 130 U.S. and Canadian energy companies on Utility Scam Awareness Day - November 15, 2023 to raise awareness and to help educate customers.

Utility scams, often referred to as imposter scams, cost American consumers $2.6 billion in 2022**. Many natural gas, electric and water customers throughout the country are being targeted by impostor utility scams each day.

In recent years, scammers have gotten deceptively creative utilizing social media along with increased calls, texts, emails and in-person tactics, contacting electric and gas customers asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection.

Chattanooga Gas strongly encourages customers to stay vigilant of potential scam activity such as:

• Threats to disconnect their natural gas service if payment is not made.
• Requests that payments be made from a single method, such as a debit card, prepaid card, checking account, cryptocurrency or to send funds via a mobile app to make a bill payment.
• Claims they have overpaid, and their bank account or credit card number is needed for a refund.
• Requests to vacate their home so that a meter or other natural gas equipment can be replaced.
• Suggestions through social media that their bill will be covered by a charity after they make a partial payment by way of a wire transfer.

Chattanooga Gas also takes proactive measures to protect customers.

• Chattanooga Gas employees and contractors who visit customer homes or businesses will have Chattanooga Gas identification.
• Customers have the option of signing up to receive the company’s Keep Me Informed appointment status text messages can access a photo of the technician assigned to perform work at their property.

Customers who suspect or experience fraud should hang up, delete the email or shut the door, then immediately contact local authorities.

For more information, visit, www.chattanoogagas.com/fraudprotection

**Source: Federal Trade Commission