Power bill scam targets Grant County PUD customers

EPHRATA - Telephone scammers are calling Grant PUD customers and threatening to shut off their electricity unless an immediate payment is made, the PUD has reported.

Grant PUD customers have reported receiving calls from individuals misrepresenting themselves as PUD employees and demanding that the customers meet them in a location other than a PUD office to make a payment.

Grant PUD employees do not ask customers to meet them to make payments at a location other than a regular Grant PUD payment facility, the PUD stated.

And, the PUD said, all customers who are unsure about the legitimacy of a call from the PUD should tell the caller they will hang up and call back. Then the customer should return the call using a Grant PUD number.

Grant PUD's main customer service number is (509) 766-2505 or toll free (800) 422-3199. Any calls that are suspected to be a scam should be reported to the customer's local police agency.

- Staff report