LPEA Phone Scam Alert During Snowdown Celebration
LPEA Phone Scam Alert During Snowdown Celebration
Date Published

LPEA phone scam threatening disconnection for non-payment

Current effort appears to be targeting Durango businesses in advance of Snowdown

 

DURANGO, Colo. – La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) is once again cautioning its consumer-members to not be fooled by impersonators who claim to be from LPEA and threaten disconnection for lack of payment. The current phone scam appears to be targeting businesses in Downtown Durango on the eve of Snowdown, Durango’s annual winter festival that attracts thousands of visitors to town.

 

“Every time we turn around, there’s a new twist,” said Ron Meier, LPEA manager of engineering and member services. “We probably shouldn’t be surprised that the scammers are monitoring activities in Durango and have specifically targeted this week. We know businesses embrace this week for sales to help sustain them through the winter, and to be threatened with electricity disconnection certainly is unsettling.”

 

Meier notes that LPEA does not make phone calls threatening to immediately disconnect anyone’s electricity for lack of payment, nor demand that consumer-members get a prepaid credit card to provide funds over the phone. When an account is past due, LPEA customers receive a series of written notices and are given adequate time to settle their bills before any disconnect would take place.

 

If receiving a questionable phone call demanding immediate payment, LPEA consumer-members are asked to get a call-back number from the caller (potential scammer), then hang up and call LPEA directly to see if a true issue exists with their account. If a call is blatantly fraudulent, LPEA consumer-members are advised to call local authorities.

 

LPEA’s Customer Service Representatives can be reached during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, at 970.247.5786 for clarification of any billing questions. LPEA consumer-members can also review the status of their account at any time online at www.lpea.coop and click on the SmartHub icon.

 

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative celebrating 80 years in 2019, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with in excess of 43,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible.