A marked truck in the driveway. A familiar REC logo. A friendly face stopping by to do important work.
It's a sight many members recognize — and that's exactly why scammers try to imitate it.
Scammers often rely on urgency. Someone may claim to be from REC and ask for access to your property, request immediate payment or try to collect personal or account information before you have time to think.
Legitimate REC employees and contractors should be easy to recognize. They drive marked vehicles, wear company uniforms and carry identification. If something seems suspicious, trust your instincts. Ask to see identification, then call REC at 800-552-3904 to verify the visit.
“Scammers count on people feeling rushed,” said Joanie Griffiths, Director – Member Services and Community Relations. “If something feels unusual, slow down and give us a call. We'd much rather verify a visit than have someone become the victim of a scam.”
It also helps to know what REC won't do. REC doesn't use collection agencies to contact members by phone, and Member Services representatives will never pressure you to make an immediate payment. Be especially cautious if someone asks you to pay with gift cards, prepaid cards or wire transfers.
Protect yourself by remembering a few simple steps:
• Never make an immediate payment under pressure.
• Don't provide personal or financial information unless you initiated the contact.
• Never agree to meet someone to make a payment.
• If a visitor seems suspicious, end the conversation and report the visit to REC and local law enforcement.
If you receive a suspicious call, email, text or outage notification, contact REC directly to verify it. Official REC outage text alerts come only from 63273.
A few moments of caution can make all the difference. When in doubt, slow down, verify and let REC help you separate what's real from what isn't.
