Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Scammers are once again targeting customers of Hawaiian Electric Co., Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. on the Big Island.
The state’s dominant utility said Friday that customers who receive these scam calls should hang up.
Hawaiian Electric Cos. said if a customer receives a call from someone saying they’re from Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric or Hawaii Electric Light and demanding immediate payment over the phone or via prepaid debit cards, it’s a scam.
If the caller says a customer’s account is delinquent and threatens to shut off power immediately unless payment is made, it’s a scam.
If the caller asks to meet a customer to pick up a payment, it’s a scam.
Customers should simply hang up if they receive such a call, and then dial the customer service line that is printed on the customer’s monthly electric bill or listed on the company’s website. Hawaiian Electric Cos. said customers should not call the number displayed on caller ID even if it says “HECO,” “MECO” or “HELCO.”
“Just today, the companies received dozens of fraud reports from customers on Oahu and Hawaii Island,” Hawaiian Electric Cos. said. “The scammers appear to be calling residential and business customers at random. One of the businesses reported receiving 10 scam calls within a short time frame.”
The utilities said they have recently noticed a higher level of sophistication among the scams. Scammers are more persistent and aggressive, insisting that a bill is overdue even if the customer knows it’s been paid.
The Hawaiian Electric Cos. are members of Utilities United Against Scams, a coalition of more than 80 companies that have joined together to combat schemes targeting utility customers.
For more information, go to hawaiianelectric.com/stopscams; hawaiielectriclight.com/stopscams; or mauielectric.com/stopscams.
78