Chattanooga Gas shares tips to help customers avoid utility scams

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Tuesday, November 19, 2024 – With utility scams on the rise, it is essential for customers to remain alert and take proactive measures to protect themselves from becoming victims. In 2023, imposter scams cost consumers nearly $2.7 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

In recognition of Utility Scam Awareness Day on November 20, Chattanooga Gas is joining more than 150 U.S. and Canadian energy companies to raise awareness about deceptive practices used by imposters and empower consumers with the information they need stay safe. In recent years, scammers have gotten deceptively creative, using digital platforms, increased calls, texts, phishing emails and in-person tactics to contact electric and gas customers, asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection.

Chattanooga Gas encourages customers to stay alert for potential scam activities, such as:

• Threats to disconnect their natural gas service if immediate 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.

Tips to identify a Chattanooga Gas representative:

By phone: When a customer service representative contacts a customer by phone regarding the status of their account or to discuss payment, they will identify themselves as a Chattanooga Gas employee. To verify legitimacy, customers can request that the representative confirm information about their account, for example:

• The date of their last payment
• The amount of their last payment
• Their account number

By email: We will never ask for account or credit card information in an email. Customers can safely access and make updates to their account information and payment methods using our My Account online portal.

In-person: In addition, whenever a field service representative or one of our contractors visits a customer’s home or business, they will provide Chattanooga Gas identification. As an additional safety measure to protect our customers, anyone who signs up to receive our Keep Me Informed appointment status text messages can access a photo of the technician assigned to perform work at their property.

Chattanooga Gas will never use aggressive or intimidating tactics to pressure customers into making a payment toward their natural gas bill. Customers who suspect or experience fraud should contact local authorities, and then call Chattanooga Gas’ Customer Care Center at 1-866-643-4168. 

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About Chattanooga Gas

Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 70,500 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, visit chattanoogagas.com.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with more than 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

Media Contact:
DeAllous Smith
404.922.6886 
dealsmit@southernco.com