ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — During the holiday season, PNM is warning about a phone scam threatening to shut off your power and demanding an urgent payment to resolve it.
PNM says more than 1,900 scam reports have been reported this year. Scammers often pretend to be PNM, claim you’re behind on your bill and threaten to shut off your electricity unless you pay with a prepaid card, gift card or electronic money transfer within an hour.
The scammers demand around $200-$500 and more than $1,000 for business customers.
Around 91% of people were reached over the phone. To get you to answer, it’s reported that scammers add a false PNM caller ID or a false 505 prefix to their number.
Scams often spike during the holidays when people are at home more often and dependent on electricity for various holiday needs. People often get fearful when their power is threatened and ignore red flags such as the scammer:
- Having a caller ID that reads PNM or a 505-prefix to try and localize their number
- Knowing your name and address and claiming you’re past due on your PNM bill
- Claiming that a technician is en route to disconnect your power within an hour
- Demanding you pay over the phone to prevent your power from being disconnected
- Only taking payment over the phone via prepaid card, gift card or electronic transfer
- Calling at odd hours, like the weekend or on a holiday
If you receive a call from a suspected spammer, be sure to listen to your instincts and report the scam. Other things you can…
