Hawaiian Electric to customers: Don’t get scammed!

Right after receiving a Utility Scam Awareness email from Hawaiian Electric, a friend of mine alerted me to a call he received from “Hawaii Electric Company,” letting him know he is due a “refund” and the scammer asked for financial information for his “reimbursement.”

We had a good laugh about it since the company name wasn’t even correct, he knew that we didn’t ask for financial information over the phone, and he never got any kind of written notice about a refund.

So many red flags and yet so typical during the holidays when everyone tends to be juggling so many tasks as the end of the year draws near. And the reality is, sometimes people fall for these scams and fork over their hard-earned money.

November is Utility Scam Awareness Month, and utilities work especially hard to inform customers of the growing number of scams targeting those who depend on electricity to cook their holiday meals, light their decorations and trees, power their businesses and so much more. We know you depend on your utilities, which is why the threat of disconnection from any vital service can be alarming.

And every year scammers use new technology or tactics to prey on consumers. Hawaiian Electric warns customers to be on alert for scammers who “threaten” to shut off power immediately to homes and businesses if payment is not made. Don’t be fooled.

Scammers are constantly updating their schemes, said Hawaiian Electric Security Manager Jonathon Grems. “It’s critical for all customers to stay vigilant. Don’t let a scammer’s threat of disconnection make you a victim,” Grems said.

Over the summer, scammers threatened at least 20 local businesses with disconnection and then sent QR codes to their targets to make payment. The calls came from the same three local phone numbers and two eateries paid at least $2,000 cash to the scammer.

Woodwork Designs Hawaii in Kaneohe was among the 20 businesses that reported the scam to Hawaiian Electric starting in mid-June. The caller said he was from “HECO” and that he had a work order to disconnect service, said owner Kiaaina Wong. But Wong said his business account was current and that he hadn’t received any disconnection notices.

“I told him, ‘I’m on automatic pay and I’m up to date. What you’re doing is wrong,’” Wong said. The scammer eventually hung up. But Wong knows it can be easy to get caught off guard by scammers and encouraged customers to step back and think about what they are being asked before engaging and reacting. “Take the time to go and check your account,” Wong said.

Hawaiian Electric provides written notification if a customer account is in arrears. Disconnection notices provide a minimum of five days for customers to make payment.

To file a fraud report, visit hawaiianelectric.com/reportfraud. To review acceptable payment options, go to hawaiianelectric.com/paymentoptions.

Hawaiian Electric offers the following tips:

• If a caller says your account is delinquent and threatens to shut off service immediately unless payment is made, it’s a scam. Don’t be fooled by the caller ID, which can be manipulated to show a legitimate phone number
• If someone from ‘Hawaiian Electric’ contacts you and demands immediate payment via gift cards, money transfer, prepaid debit cards or by Bitcoin, it’s a scam. For available payment methods, go to hawaiianelectric.com/paymentoptions.
• If the caller asks to meet you in person to pick up a payment, it’s a scam.
• If you receive an email urging you to click on an embedded link or attachment, or scan a QR code, to pay a bill, think before you click. It’s likely a scam.
• If someone shows up at your home or place of business claiming to be from Hawaiian Electric, ensure that person is wearing official attire with a logo, driving a properly labeled vehicle and carrying company identification. When in doubt, call customer service.