In the Salt Lake City area, a new scam has emerged that is echoing similar scams across the country. Rocky Mountain Power is “warning” its users that scam artists are trying to get money and steal personal information by posing as Rocky Mountain Power employees. According to the company:
“The scammers may target customers via phone calls, texts, social media messages, email and by knocking on doors.”
The scammers warn that if they’re not given on-the-spot payment, power will be shut off in 30 to 60 minutes. Also (according to the company), the scam artists may demand payment with a prepaid card which is virtually untraceable though the tactics have shifted to more on-the-spot-payments.
“Rocky Mountain Power will not demand immediate payment. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you by phone, email, text, or in-person and asks for on-the-spot payment.”
Obviously, true Rocky Mountain Power employees carry complete ID badges.
In a related-type incident, cousins Joshua and Larry Hamm, posing as employees of Xcel Energy (reflective vests and all), forced their way into a Denver home. Larry Hamm and the homeowner, Mark Outman were killed in gunfire exchanges, and a houseguest was shot and is in critical condition. A third suspect remains at large.
Who Cares about Vulnerabilities?
The relationship between homeowners and utility companies, like Rocky Mountain Power, constitutes an ethical gray area. The relationship is not the same as, let’s say, a flooring crew the homeowner has hired or a plumber called to a home on an emergency basis.
Utility companies routinely ask for access to the property to read meters, or to check wiring, or to trim trees. The public is much more vulnerable. There is also a history of false credentials being presented, phone or email scams. Certainly, pre-pandemic, it was the elderly or the vulnerable who were home during most of the day.
Because of this gray-area relationship, I believe that from an ethical point of view the utility industry has a greater role and responsibility in protecting its customers. I also believe that the commission of a crime by scam artists posing as utility company workers who try to gain access to a home should carry an additional penalty.
Beyond those “beliefs” of mine, utility companies, Rocky Mountain Power for example, should address warnings to the public in a more forceful and direct manner.
Scam artists seize upon vulnerability and opportunity, and tepid warnings on utility company websites to the general public seem far too passive a measure. For example, why can’t utility providers take greater advantage of social media, cable and television news advertising and digital device advertising? Why can’t utility companies try for more air-time on prime-time news? Why can’t utility companies do more advertising in magazines going out to older Americans?
The utility companies have a clear monopoly, they have scant competition, shouldn’t they offer greater protections to their customer base?
Fraud will always occur. Unfortunately, it is human nature. Nevertheless, the utility industry occupies a unique place in our lives. When fraud occurs, I believe it is their ethical duty to gives us a unique solution and response.
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