Today, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) are alerting Wisconsinites to a potential “spoofing” scam. “Spoofing” is when a caller ID, email address, or other form of contact identification is falsified to trick recipients into trusting a fraudulent message.
PSC has received several reports of small businesses and property owners receiving calls that appear to come from the official PSC phone number, (1-800) 225-7729. But in reality, these calls come from scammers who impersonate PSC, threaten to disconnect the target’s utility services, then demand payment.
DATCP and PSC today remind Wisconsinites that the Public Service Commission will never make calls to threaten you with utility disconnection. They will never demand payment over the phone, nor will they ask for your personal financial information. If you receive a call like this, just hang up.
For more information and consumer protection resources or to file a complaint, visit DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage at ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.
Visit PSC’s website at psc.wi.gov. If a consumer or property owner receives a suspicious phone call claiming to come from PSC, they are encouraged to contact PSC right away by calling (1-800) 225-7729.
Media release.
