Atmos Energy is educating customers and exposing common tactics used by scammers on Utility Scam Awareness Day — noting this year has been especially risky during the pandemic.
In recent months, scammers have increased calls, texts, emails, and in-person contact with utility customers, fraudulently asking for immediate payment to avoid termination of service.
Through its own work and with the help of customer feedback, Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) has eliminated nearly 9,500 toll-free numbers that had been used by scammers to dupe utility customers.
“Atmos Energy is committed to providing exceptional customer service, and we strive to protect our customers from the harmful effects of a utility impostor scam,” said Mark Martin, Atmos Energy vice president of public affairs. “Scams often begin with a call, text message, or email pretending to be from a trusted contact asking to send money or share personal information. We are thankful to join UUAS and utility companies across North America to reveal crooked scammer tactics so our customers can better shield their financial and personal data.”
Atmos Energy will never send a lone notification to customers within one hour of a service disconnection and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or a third-party mobile payment application.
Customers who receive a suspicious email, phone call, text, or knock at the door should remember the following tips:
• Slow down. Scammers typically try to rush customers and will ask for personal information and immediate payment.
• Verify. Scammers often pose as utility company employees. Always ask for an employee’s identification badge, which displays name, photograph, and Atmos Energy logo. If you suspect an impostor, call the Atmos Energy customer service number at 888-286-6700 immediately to verify the employee’s identity and contact local authorities.
• Stop before you act. Think about the information the caller or potential scammer is asking of you. If it seems unsafe or incorrect, rethink the situation and ask questions.
UUAS continues to create awareness of common scams and new tactics being used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Customers who suspect fraud or who feel threatened during contact with a scammer should contact local law enforcement authorities and the Atmos Energy customer service team at 888-286-6700, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST.
For more information and tips to protect against impostor utility scams:
• Visit Atmos Energy’s website at https://www.atmosenergy.com/customer-service/beware-utility-scams
• Visit the UUAS website at www.utilitiesunited.org
• Follow UUAS on Twitter and Facebook
• Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/
