Scammers targeting EWEB customers

Over the holiday weekend, Eugene Water & Electric Board reports it has received multiple reports of scam attempts targeting customers. The scammers threaten people by telling them that that their electric and/or water services would be shut off if the customer did not submit payment within 30 minutes.

EWEB is reaching out to remind customers to be suspicious of any emails and/or phone calls that claim to be urgent and require immediate action to prevent shut-off of any of their utility services. Officials say that if your account is past due, the utility will attempt to notify you prior to disconnection in multiple ways, including via your monthly bill advising the balance is “Due Upon Receipt” and a Final Notice.

“Scammers often use valid-looking phone numbers, graphics, uniforms, and other forms of fraudulent identification,” according to Jennifer Connors, EWEB’s Communications & Marketing Supervisor. Over the phone, scammers can “spoof” caller ID to make it look like the call is coming from EWEB.

If people receive a call demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection, or any other suspicious demand, Connors advises they they should hang up and call EWEB Customer Service at 541-685-7000.

To learn learn more about common scam attempts and how to protect yourself go to: eweb.org/scams.

Luckily, only EWWEB customers seem to have been targeted.

DEbi Wilson, general manager of the Lane Electric Cooperative said she was aware of any customers reporting they’d been contacted during the scam.”However, it’s always a good idea to remind people to beware of anyone calling and asking for a payment, a credit card number, or social security number,” Wilson says.