SSVEC warns businesses of recent scam

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Derek Jordan

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative is warning local businesses to be aware of a scam, after two Sierra Vista companies recently reported receiving phone calls demanding payments to prevent their electricity from being shut off.

The businesses were both contacted within a week of each other and after normal business hours, while SSVEC does not disconnect accounts outside of those hours, said Wayne Crane, public relations coordinator for SSVEC.

When called, the businesses were asked to submit payment to a third party and not the utility co-op.

“This money never reaches the cooperative and therefore is never credited to the business’s account,” said Jack Blair, chief member services officer, in a release.

Residential customers have been targeted with a similar kind of scam in the past, but this is the first time that businesses have reported these kinds of call, Crane said.

When an account is delinquent, the co-op will notify the customer on their bill of a date when their power could be shut off. When that date arrives, a technician dispatched to disconnect the power will attempt to make in-person contact with the account holder one final time. Crane said rarely SSVEC will attempt to contact delinquent account holders by phone, and if so, it is never outside of the normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Any business that receives a call that seems disingenuous should contact their local SSVEC office to be provided with the up-to-date status of their account, he said.

Businesses should also report these calls to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, at (602) 542-5763.