A Warning Against Scam Calls
Some residents of Richmond have reported receiving a scam call from a caller claiming to be a representative of the Mayor's Office and requesting personal information
This is false, and we recommend you hang up immediately. Please let your friends and family know, especially if they have been victim to a scam call in the past.
Be aware that in times of crisis, scam calls and emails tend to increase. Accordingly, the city has received reports of a number of scam calls that do not directly deal with city services:
- Callers have claimed that the Social Security Administration is cutting off Social Security payments. This is untrue, according to a press release from the commissioner. Visit this page for verifiable information regarding Social Security benefits.
- Callers have claimed to represent Dominion Energy, extorting money out of residents by threatening to shut off power. This is also a scam, as the State Corporations Commission has ensured that no major utilities will be shut off during a 60-day period that began Monday, March 16.
Here's some advice from Dominion Energy on avoiding, averting and diminishing the spread of scam calls targeting customers:
If you receive a scam call, do your part to protect more vulnerable populations. Report the call immediately to the FTC's Complaint Assistant at this link.
- While robocall scams can be relatively easy to spot, effective scammers continue to make personal phone calls. Some scammers may employ scare tactics, while others will try to gain your trust by sounding friendly and sympathetic.
- Many utility scammers try to instill fear and a sense of urgency by threatening immediate service disconnection if you don’t provide payment information over the phone or agree to pay your energy bill with a prepaid debit or gift card
- Dominion Energy does not make calls requesting immediate payment or require customers to pay with prepaid cards of any kind.
- Some utility impostors may falsify their caller ID to appear they are using a local number or even Dominion Energy’s customer service number. When in doubt, hang up and call the number located on your energy bill.
- Don’t let anyone into your home unless you have a previously scheduled appointment or have called about an issue. Always check for proper identification before letting personnel in. Additionally, utility workers won’t ask you to pay an energy bill in person.
- Hang up. Customers can always verify their account balance and payment due date by signing into their dominionenergy.com account or calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357)
Your actions will prevent other people from falling victim during this period of widespread anxiety and uncertainty.
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