LIGHT READING INLAND POWER AND LIGHT inlandpower.com
MARCH 2017
Beware of Clever Scams Impacting Inland Power Members Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. Recently, Inland Power has become aware of a few scamming attempts hitting our local region. Please be aware of these three scams impacting utilities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Telephone Scam - A caller pretends they are an Inland Power employee, telling you that your account is past due and that you need to obtain a specific type of debit card that will transfer funds to the scammer. Inland Power will never require you to purchase a debit card for payment. We encourage you to report these calls to law enforcement. Email Phishing Scam - Emails are sent to members, pretending to be your monthly electronic bill. When you click on the link, the electronic bill asks you for specific account information for payment that will give the scammer’s your personal account information. If you currently receive electronic bills from Inland Power and are unsure if an email is legitimate, here are some quick ways to verify the accuracy of the email: • Check the sender. Your electronic bill will always come from Inland Power and not a generic address. • Before clicking on the link to view your bill, hover over the link to be sure that it is directing you back to Inland Power. • Lastly, do not enter personal payment information if you have not logged into your Inland Power account securely. Inland Power always requires a secure login/password to keep your personal information safe and secure.
conservation duo, Lindsey and Todd, attended the evening at an expensive seafood restaurant to hear their pitch. The presenters start by talking about solar power, which is a very hot topic these days. The pitch is sharp; aiming to get the audience involved and agreeing that energy bills, comfort and safety are priorities in their homes. The conversation about solar panel installations ends and the focus centers on adding a miracle reflective insulation in the attic of your home. All of this sounds great, but beware.
Check with your Inland Power conservation experts, Todd and Lindsey, before making expensive energy efficiency improvements to your home.
In addition, while not a scam, a new trend has emerged where third party sites will arrange to make payments on all of your bills. Some of these services even masquerade as being affiliated with Inland Power when they are not. While some bill paying services are legitimate, members that use these should be cautious to pick reputable companies. Often these third party sites charge high service fees and do not make the payment the same day you pay them, which could result in your bill being paid late.
What you are really purchasing can be seen in the photo above and we’ve seen companies charge between $4,000 - $11,000 for this reflective insulation installation in a residential home. Victims have not seen any improvement in their energy consumption and many are taking action against the companies that sold it to them. This reflective insulation provides no insulation value. In order to save energy you need to increase your insulation value (R-value) by adding more or better insulation and by sealing air leaks.
The conservation team here at Inland Power can help you make wise decisions on the best course of action to increase energy efficiency in your home. To learn about additional ways to save, contact your conservation experts at conservation@inlandpower. com or (509) 789-1801. Todd or Lindsey will be happy to help you.
Lastly, Beware the Free Dinner - Maybe you have seen the offers by mail or in the local newspaper for a free dinner? These companies continue to haunt our membership. Inland Power’s T O D D A N D L I N D S E Y, YO U R E N E R G Y EFFICIENCY TEAM
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