During National Consumer Protection Week, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers and public to remain vigilant against utility scams

During National Consumer Protection Week, CenterPoint Energy reminds customers and public to remain vigilant against utility scams

Take steps to keep personal information secure

Thursday-March-6-2025

Evansville, Ind. - March 6, 2025 - With National Consumer Protection Week observed from March 2 through March 8, CenterPoint Energy is reminding customers and the public to be aware of reported scam activity, such as calls targeting utility customers and demanding payment or impersonating a company employee. Scammers may pose as company representatives and claim that immediate payment is required to avoid service disconnection. Calls from scammers can appear legitimate, often using caller ID spoofing/masking or using urgent language, to pressure customers into making quick payments through non-traditional methods (like asking to pay with gift cards).

"We urge our customers to remain vigilant against these bad actors who could target them and encourage everyone to take action to safeguard their personal and financial information from utility scammers. If a customer questions whether a call is from a legitimate contact from CenterPoint or whether an individual is performing work on behalf of the company, please reach out and contact us right away," said Tony Gardner, CenterPoint Energy's Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer.

Customers should know that CenterPoint will neverdemand immediate payment over the phone or threaten service disconnection if payment is not immediately received. Written notice of a past due balance, with a future date of payment to avoid disconnection, will be always provided. Instead of responding to unexpected calls requesting payment, customers should keep in mind the following tips to help verify the legitimacy of the communication and protect their personal information.

Tips for spotting utility scams

CenterPoint reminds customers of these important tips to spot a utility scam:

• DO NOT communicate or interact with suspicious phone calls, emails or text messages. Scammers can manipulate caller ID, but customers can confirm they are speaking with CenterPoint by hanging up and calling the phone number on their bill.
• Ask to see identification before allowing a utility worker near or inside a residence. Customers can always call CenterPoint to verify if an employee was authorized to visit their home.
• CenterPoint phone agents will never personally request banking or credit card information over the phone. Instead, customers making payments over the phone will be transferred to a secure Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to complete their transaction.
• CenterPoint agents will never ask for payment via:
• • Cash
  • Money wire transfers
  • Prepaid debit cards (Green Dot cards)
  • Gift cards (Amazon, etc.)
  • PayPal, Venmo, Square Pay or Apple Pay
  • Cryptocurrency
• CenterPoint will NOT disconnect services without first:
• • Delivering a bill noting that an account is overdue.
  • If the balance remains unpaid, providing a disconnection notice stating the approximate disconnection date and time.
    

What to do if targeted by a utility scam

Customers who believe they have been targeted by a scam should take the following steps to protect their personal and financial information:

• End communication by hanging up the phone or closing the door. If a suspected scammer is at a residence and safety is a concern, call 911.
• Report the fraud to local law enforcement.
• Contact the utility provider using the phone number listed on a recent bill to verify account status and report the scam attempt.
• Notify banks or financial institutions to report the incident and minimize potential damage.
• Report the scam to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Submit a report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• If the scam was conducted online, file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Share details about scam attempts with neighbors, friends and family members. Social media can be an effective way to quickly spread awareness and prevent scammers from targeting others.
  

Customers with concerns about their CenterPoint account status can verify account information and payment history by calling the number listed on their bill or visiting CenterPointEnergy.com/Billing.