BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC MEMBERS REPORT INCREASE IN ATTEMPTED PHONE-PAYMENT SCAMS

  

Members of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative are reporting a recent increase in attempted phone scams from people claiming to represent Bluebonnet.

According to Bluebonnet, the fraudulent callers tell members their power will be turned off unless they make a payment over the phone. These calls are not made by, or on behalf of, Bluebonnet.

Bluebonnet General Manager Matt Bentke says the cooperative will never contact members and threaten to immediately disconnect their power unless payment is made over the phone. He says the cooperative will make at least two attempts to remind its members with delinquent accounts—once by mail and again by courtesy phone call—within ten days after their payment’s due date.

Bentke says the most recent scam attempts have been concentrated in the Del Valle and Lockhart areas, in Caldwell and Travis Counties.

If a Bluebonnet member has not received a reminder via mail or phone call, and someone claiming to be from Bluebonnet calls demanding immediate payment, they are told to not pay, and avoid giving away any account or payment information.

If a member does receive a call like this, Bluebonnet recommends getting as much information about the caller as possible, including the phone number from which he or she is calling. Members should then report the attempted scam by calling Bluebonnet at 800-842-7708, followed by a call to local law enforcement as soon as possible.

Bluebonnet members can check their account status through the co-op’s website, www.bluebonnet.coop, or through the co-op’s mobile app.