Scammers perfect their craft, warns Austin Energy.

Austinites are reporting a surge of scammers trying to con personal and financial info, according to Austin Energy officials.

A Reddit post alerted Austin Energy to the increase in con artists posing as utility company reps. Jennifer Floyd, the director of customer care services, said:

“These scammers are getting more sophisticated...They're personalizing their experience with the customer, unfortunately for nefarious reasons."

Scammers are using the dark web to collect customers' personal info, including payment history. This enables them to more convincingly impersonate utility companies and trick people into paying fake bills.

What to Look Out For

• Callers pretending to be from Austin Energy, stating that payments didn't go through.
• Directions to external sites like Remitly to repay alleged overdue bills.

Protect Yourself

• Austin Energy advises customers to be vigilant and report suspicious calls by dialing 311.
• They're part of Utilities United Against Scams, working to combat fraud and shut down scammers' 1-800 numbers.
• Never give personal financial info or make immediate payments over the phone.

Scam Tactics and Red Flags

• Scammers target customers during extreme weather when utilities are most needed, putting people in a desperate position.
• They may threaten to disconnect your utilities.

Take Action if Scammed

• If you've shared financial info, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to stop unauthorized charges.
• While Austin Energy can't recoup payments, they do offer payment extensions for fraud victims.