BEC warns members of phone scam
BASTROP – Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative members have reported a recent increase in attempted phone scams by people claiming to be Bluebonnet contractors. The fraudulent callers tell members their power will be disconnected within an hour unless they make a payment over the phone. These calls are not made by or on behalf of Bluebonnet.
“Attempted scams like these have been occurring across the country for several years,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “We never contact our members and threaten to immediately disconnect their power unless payment is made over the phone. That’s not the way we do business or how we treat our members.”
Bluebonnet makes at least two attempts to remind its members with delinquent accounts – once by mail and again by a courtesy phone call – within 10 days after their payment’s due date.
If a Bluebonnet member has not received a reminder in the mail or a courtesy call about their account, and someone claiming to be from Bluebonnet calls demanding an immediate payment by phone, do not pay. Bluebonnet members who get a call from someone asking for account information or a payment on their account should not give the caller any information.
If you receive a call like that, Bluebonnet recommends that you get as much information about the caller as possible, including the phone number from which he or she is calling by caller ID. Then report the attempted scam by calling Bluebonnet at 800-842-7708 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call local law enforcement as well, as soon as possible.
Bluebonnet members can check their account status 24 hours a day, every day from their computer, smart phone or tablet through the co-op’s website, bluebonnet. coop, or mobile app.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 98,000 meters, and owns and maintains 11,600 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties.
