Summary: Have you ever been a victim of scam or are you afraid of running into this unpleasant experience? Follow the advice contained in our guide to recognize electricity and gas bill scams and how to solve them.
During this particular period of crisis and economic difficulty that we are experiencing, there has been an increase in attempts to scam and deceive by criminals who are desperately trying, with subterfuges and techniques from real professionals, to get rich illegally behind us. One of the most affected areas is the domestic energy sector and, more particularly, expenditure related to consumption and electricity and gas bills.
The 5 most common types of energy scams
Experts from csttaranth.it have identified the main ones scam mode in the bill that could be implemented by the bad guys.
Here is the list to read carefully:
1. Calls from bogus call centers
Fake employees of the main national energy suppliers could call you and, using deceptive excuses or phrases, could try to obtain your private and personal data.Many times the calls received are at unusual times, with insistent tones and with incomprehensible speeches. Remember that no electricity or energy company will ever ask you for credit card or bank account information over the phone. Use this as a confidence indicator.
2. Phishing emails or alleged mistakes in old bills
The texts always concern "refunds" that can be obtained following the communication of personal data (iban, credit card number), or outstanding payments against you on bills of past years to be regularized.
Always check the sender's email address and if you have any doubts call the number of the energy supply company in question before making payments or communicating your sensitive data.
3. Door to door visit
A fake agent might ring your doorbell and ask you to view the latest bills or to check your gas meter for regular supply or routine analysis.
This method is unfortunately very effective, because themeter control activities it is an activity that is actually carried out by the technicians appointed by the electricity companies. How then do we notice the scam? Very simple! Just ask for the identification card with the technician's registration number and check after the intervention with the electricity company if the check was planned or not.
4. Misleading advertisements
When you receive an offer (be it via email, phone, or through any other channel) that seems "too" convenient and not very transparent, there is certainly something wrong and there could be scams, scams or simply improper or vexatious clauses. The advice is to always check by calling the energy company directly or by checking the quote on an online price comparator the existence or otherwise of such an offer.
5. SMS
With a simple message received on your smartphone some fake operators could communicate new offers or invite you to urgently update your personal area on the website of your electricity and gas supplier due to alleged irregularities. Generally all these messages have 2 usual characteristics that can help you understand that this is a scam attempt:
- always contain a link within the text - inviting you to click - to complete an alleged operation
- they are of an urgent nature under penalty of the attribution of more, fines, sanctions "unless ... you click on the link and complete the required procedure!"
An exhaustive list of all possible scam methods cannot be perfectly exhaustive because day after day new techniques are always discovered, but these described are the methods most used in Italy according to the analyzes with the current data available. For more information and to receive assistance in the event of a scam, contact him front office for the Arera consumer.
5 tips to prevent scams
Regardless of the type of scam attempt that you can receive, there are small tricks, always valid, to play in advance and defend yourself from scams in the world of electricity and gas utilities.
So let's go and see 5 tips "Smart" to always keep in mind:
- To recognize always there person with whom you are talking, identifying name and surname, the company you work for. If he is in front of you ask him for an identification card to identify himself.
- Never reveal your own personal data before being sure of step 1
- Don't communicate yours pod and pdr codes and don't show the bills, these are also essential for a change operator scam.
- Be careful and make sure, before sign documents, that you be left with a copy so that you can reread the content of what you are signing.
- Never pay sums of money in addition to those that are required of you in your bills.
The last resort: the right of withdrawal for electricity and gas contracts
If by now the damage is done and you have fallen into a scam, do not despair, it can happen to anyone and perhaps all is not lost! In fact, if you have been scammed and you find yourself with a contract that you have not requested or entered into, you can rely on right of withdrawal.
Il right of withdrawal it is a contractual clause that gives you the possibility to interrupt the energy supply contract (electricity and gas), and to foil the scam on the bill generally within 14 days of signing it.
To take advantage of this guaranteed and legal right, the customer must normally make a notice of withdrawal by registered mail in the manner indicated in the contract signed with the supplier.
Remember that this does not apply in the event of withdrawal due to a change of supplier. In this case, in fact, the new supplier will take care of the administrative and bureaucratic part by making the necessary communications.
Source: https://www.csttaranto.it/truffe-bollette-guida/
