All West Virginia households have received a notice from the West Virginia Office of Energy (WVOE) about a possible fraud that aims to steal their personal data.
According to a press release from the WVOE, energy officials have reported that customers have been receiving calls from con artists posing as representatives of the “West Virginia Power Company” and other legitimate West Virginian businesses, like Appalachian Power and FirstEnergy.
The con artists claim that the free in-home services they provide to victims are made possible by federal grants and are intended to increase the energy efficiency of homes. After that, they request the victim’s name and address, which can be used to steal their identity.
The WVOE stressed that while there aren’t any funds available right now that offer all West Virginians this kind of free service, it will notify the public if and when such programs become available.
“If the caller cannot provide their company’s West Virginia business license and details about the grant funding the project, it is likely a scam,” WVOE Director Nicholas Preservati stated. “You should never give out personal information over the phone without first making sure the call is legitimate.”
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According to the WVOE, residents should always ask for information to be contacted again later, such as the company name, phone number, and business license number, which can be checked on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, if they have any reason to suspect the legitimacy of a caller.
Please go here or call the Attorney General’s Office’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-368-8808 if you believe you have been the victim of a scam.
