Scam claims ‘stimulus’ program will pay electric bill

JACKSONVILLE — First Electric Cooperative wants members to be aware of a scam that is threatening the identities of thousands of victims across the country and has made its way to central Arkansas.

As part of the scam, the scammers advise victims that they qualify for a stimulus program developed by President Barack Obama to pay their utility bills for them. The scammers continue by telling victims that to participate in the program, they have to register. The scammers then request personal information, such as a Social Security number. The unsuspecting victims give scammers their information, and in return, the scammers supposedly give a Federal Reserve Bank routing number to use to pay their bill.

At this point, the scammers have the personal information of the victims, which is all they need to commit identity theft.

The victims are left thinking they have valid banking information and attempt to make a payment to their utility either online or by phone. In some instances, victims may think the program is valid because it will appear that the payment has been processed when the account shows a zero balance. These payments are rejected by the bank as a fraudulent account number and returned to the utility in a manner similar as a returned check.

Ultimately, victims are left owing their utility bill and possibly returned-check fees, as well as having their identity information stolen.

First Electric urges members to never give out their Social Security number or financial information to anyone claiming to be associated with this program, or any similar programs, that claim to provide this type of assistance.

Those who have been contacted by one of these scammers or are victims of this scam are encouraged to contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office on its Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 482-8982 or www.GotYourBackArkansas.org.

First Electric serves more than 88,000 active accounts throughout 17 counties in central and southeast Arkansas. The cooperative is headquartered in Jacksonville and maintains full-service offices in Benton, Heber Springs, Perryville and Stuttgart. For more information, call (800) 489-7405 or visit www.firstelectric.coop or www.facebook.com/FirstElectric.