It’s unfortunate that I feel the need to write on this topic in my monthly column, but here we are. Far too often, we receive reports from our members reporting suspicious calls and other scam attempts, using CHELCO’s name to try and cheat our members out of their money. This month, I’ve worked with our IT and Member Services departments to gather some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of a utility scam.

CHELCO will NEVER call to demand immediate payment
The most important rule of thumb is to remember that CHELCO does not call our members to collect overdue payments. If you ever receive a call from individuals posing as CHELCO and asking for banking or credit card information, hang up immediately and call us at our main line, (850) 892-2111 to report it.

Additionally, be careful with trusting caller ID, because modern scammers have the ability to “spoof” or make it appear that a certain number is calling you. Even if it appears a call may be coming from CHELCO, if the caller initiates a request for personal financial information, do not let the phone call go any further.

If your account is overdue, you will receive a written notice from CHELCO, not a direct phone call demanding immediate payment. If anything ever feels off, please hang up and call us directly.

Convenient payment options to set your mind at ease
If you enjoy maximum convenience, nothing is more convenient than enrolling in automatic bank draft so you don’t have to remember to pay your monthly bill. If this is something that interests you, it’s also a great way to protect yourself should you receive a scam attempt claiming your bill is overdue. 

Additionally, we are excited to roll out a new way to pay conveniently at various retailers. CheckOut by PayGo allows you to pay any amount on your energy bill at stores such as Dollar General and CVS Pharmacy. With the multitude of participating retailers throughout our service area, this is a convenience to our members who may not live close to a CHELCO office and wish to pay manually. 

Visit CHELCO.com/ways-pay or scan the QR codes below if you’d like to learn more about payment options available to you.

Look for the CHELCO logo
Not all scam attempts come in the form of a phone call. From time to time, we receive reports of individuals claiming to represent CHELCO, promoting certain services, such as rooftop solar or whole-home surge protection. While door-to-door sales pitches can be an annoyance, they are not all scams. However, be aware that anyone knocking on your door representing CHELCO will be able to provide a photo badge displaying the CHELCO logo, their picture, and job title. Additionally, all CHELCO vehicles are clearly marked with our logo. Anyone who is legitimately representing CHELCO will be able to provide proof.

This is one reason you will not find CHELCO distributing apparel items featuring our logo to the general public. While many members would be happy to wear the CHELCO logo in support of their cooperative, we cannot risk our logo falling into the wrong hands, potentially being used with ill intent. 

Avoid all types of scams
While we hope you avoid utility scams, we also want to make sure you are taking steps to avoid all types of scams; especially those perpetrated by cyber criminals.

Scammers and cyber criminals look for weak points to exploit before software companies can fix them. Update programs on your computer, tablet, and mobile phone as soon as possible whenever a new version becomes available. Software updates often contain critical patches and protections against security threats. To make it easier, most devices have features that will automatically update your security software, internet browser, operating system, and other applications.

Be vigilant
The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to simply be aware that scams are happening every day. Trust your suspicions, play it safe, and call us if anything seems fishy.

I hope this information has been helpful, but I also hope that you never have to use it. If you ever need us, we’re always an email, phone call, or office visit away.

Steve Rhodes,
Chief Executive Officer