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Standing together to protect consumers

Join Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) to combat utility scams, prevent fraud, and protect consumers. Learn about the scale of the problem, common scams, and how to stay safe. Let's stand together against scams!

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Standing together to protect consumers

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  1. #stopscams Standing togetherto protect consumers

  2. Today’s content What is UUAS? How big is this problem? What can we do? A Philadelphia story (or two) #stopscams

  3. Terrible acronym … worthy cause • To combat utility scamsby providing a forum for utility companies and associations to share data and best practices and to work together to implement initiatives to inform and protectour customers. • By coordinating our efforts across North America, our scale will magnify the impact of our campaigns. On average, in 2017, each phone scam victim lost $430, totaling about $9.5 billion overall. #stopscams

  4. UUAS areas of focus • Industry collaboration • Customer campaigns • National Utility Scam Awareness Day • National Consumer Protection Week • Ongoing/ad hoc social media • utilitiesunited.org • Consumer guide • Partnerships • Data #stopscams

  5. UUAS today A collaborative group with 112 charter members • Investor-owned electric: 56 companies, EEI, CEA • Electric co-ops: 16 co-ops, NRECA • Public power: 16 agencies, APPA • Natural gas: 29 companies, AGA, APGA, CGA • Water: 14 companies, NAWC *note: combined gas/electric utilities are included in both totals Since 2016, UUAS members have capturedover 35,000 scam reports from customers. #stopscams

  6. UUAS Partnerships • Somos • FTC • US Telecom • BBB • Retailers • Prepaid Card Companies • Law enforcement An estimated one in 10 American adults lost money in a phone scam in the past 12 months. #stopscams

  7. Moving on …. What is UUAS? How big is this problem? What can we do? A Philadelphia story (or two) #stopscams

  8. Common Scams BY PHONE AT YOUR DOOR BY EMAIL THREAT TO DISCONNECT IMMEDIATELY REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT REQUEST TO PURCHASE PREPAID DEBIT CARD #stopscams

  9. How Big Is This Problem? 40% aged 20-29 who made a report said they lost money through fraud versus 18% of those 70 or older. #stopscams

  10. How Big Is This Problem? One of the latest frauds is a wire transfer scam costing the home buying marketplace $5.3 million a month. #stopscams

  11. How Big Is This Problem? The median monetary loss for all scam victims is $274 … the median loss for a utility scam victim is $500 #stopscams

  12. Changing with the times 2017’s top fraud was Imposter Scams, with ~350,000 reports. Imposter scams cost $328 million last year. #stopscams

  13. Changing with the times Dear Duke Energy: We live at ********** Orlando, FL 32837 and we just received a call from a Carlos Martinez-Employee ID# 1416 stating that Wesley Wiggans (An Independent Contractor/Technician of yours) had a suspension order to suspend our service because the account was not updated with the new payment system (we used to pay online, but my husband has been mailing out checks). In order to avoid the suspension order, he asked us to go to CVS and get a MoneyPack, and pay the $126.40 we owed on the account. That unfortunately the past checks sent were not accepted and that we were to received a money order from you in the amount of $370.05 on Friday via Fedex. My concern is that this Carlos called my husband's cell from the same phone number 1-800-228-8485 shown on your bill to report outages. At some point he transferred us to the Wesley guy (Tech/ contractor) his phone# was 1-800-509-0331 ext. 346We just had our service interrupted due to Hurricane Irma... as you know many of us were affected, and I know you're trying hard to restore our power. Please warn other customers!!! The community is in time of need and wouldn't be fair to have these kind of people doing scams.  #stopscams

  14. Visualize the finish line … What is UUAS? How big is this problem? What can we do? A Philadelphia story (or two) #stopscams

  15. 3rd Annual 2018 National Utility Scam Awareness Day November 14, 2018 7 Scams In 7 Days #stopscams

  16. 3rd Annual 2018 National Utility Scam Awareness Day November 14, 2018 #stopscams

  17. Surely it must be over soon … What is UUAS? How big is this problem? What can we do? A Philadelphia story (or two) #stopscams

  18. A Philadelphia Story • Not targeting customers • Used as social media content: • Want to join #TeamPGW? Don’t fall for this phony poster … visit pgworks.com/career • Cool: #natgas industry jobs. Not cool: this poster seen around town; it’s a scam! Visit pgworks.com for openings • It may look unconvincing, but this flyer has been seen around town. It's a scam. Find your career at pgworks.com #stopscams

  19. A Philadelphia Story • Partnered with local agencies • Agreed on common content • PGW developed print collateral • Each collaborative partner managed their own distribution • Phila. PD created a TV spot #stopscams

  20. #stopscams utilitiesunited.org finbarr.osullivan@pgworks.com

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