FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Customers Warned about Scammers Who Pretend to Represent Utility Companies
October 17, 2024 | Press Releases
Marquette – Scammers are hard at work and are expanding their tactics to include face-to-face encounters. The company issued a warning this week after a recent incident downstate in Oakland County where two men, posing as utility workers investigating a gas leak, entered a home and killed a 72-year-old man and tied up his wife.
“UPPCO will never make unannounced visits at a home or business,” said Dan Freeborn, Manager of Communications and External Affairs. “Although infrequent, visits are always pre-arranged, and we do not use bullying tactics when engaging customers; demand immediate payment to prevent services from being turned off; collect payments at a customer’s home or business; or ask for bank account or credit card information by phone.”
Customers are reminded that legitimate utility workers will never coerce residents into letting them into their homes. “When in doubt, UPPCO customers are encouraged to ask to see the utility representative’s company ID or call Customer Service at (906) 449-2013 to confirm work is required at or near their property.”
Customers who have been approached by someone who may have been impersonating a utility representative should report the incident to their local police department or the Michigan State Police.
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CONTACT: Dan Freeborn
CELL: (906) 203-7412
EMAIL: dfreeborn@uppco.com
UPPCO is the Upper Peninsula’s largest electric utility serving approximately 52,000 customers across 4,460 square miles. UPPCO and its predecessors have excelled at providing dependable service and safe, reliable energy to its valued customers for more than 135 years.
