DON’T FALL VICTIM TO SCAMS FROM FAKE CPS ENERGY CALLERS

San Antonio – Texas, (May 31, 2019) – In 2018, CPS Energy saw an increase in the number of customers reporting to have been victimized by someone representing themselves as a CPS Energy employee to steal money from them. CPS Energy urges their customers to be on full alert for individuals posing as CPS Energy employees either by phone or in person.

Knowing how CPS Energy operates is the first step to recognize imposter activity. CPS Energy says if customers receive calls from anyone claiming to be from the utility who threatens to cut off service if payment is not made immediately, they should hang up and call customer service directly at 210-353-2222.

“We want residential and commercial customers to protect themselves from scammers going after their hard-earned money,” said Maria Garcia, Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Responsibility. “The only time we will call customers is to remind them when their account is past due.  However, we do not take payments over the phone.”

Payments can be made through Manage My Account (MMA), a free online portal. MMA also provides CPS Energy customers with monthly energy use information, a view of their billing statement and payment arrangements options.

Last year, CPS Energy received a combined 1,799 reports from both residential and commercial customers who fell victim to scams. In all, thieves were able to steal nearly $52,000, an increase of $20,000 from 2017.

CPS Energy employees will:

• NEVER threaten to disconnect service at your home or business
• NEVER call residential or commercial customers to request payment by phone
• NEVER ask a customer to purchase credit cards or prepaid cards (for example, Amazon gift cards) and call back with payment
• NEVER ask to enter a customer’s home or business unless the customer initiates a request for service or receives prior notification

Signs that the call is a scam:

• Threatening to cut off power. Scam artists demand quick action as a scare tactic
• Asks customer to purchase any prepaid card to make payment
• Once the imposter gets the card’s PIN or security number, it’s like wiring money. The funds cannot be recovered
• Sends customer to CVS Pharmacy/Office Depot/Walgreens to make a payment
• Refuses option to pay at H-E-B, claims it takes 24 hours to receive payment
• Claims recent payment was not received or was misapplied
• Gives customer 30 minutes to pay or get shut-off
• Caller claims someone from CPS Energy is on the way to turn power off
• Asks customer for banking information
• Caller asks customer for their account number
• Supplies customer with an account number to apply a payment
• Gives a toll free (i.e.: 1-800 or 1-844) number to have customer call back with payment

Other tips to keep you safe:

• Use Manage My Account to get access to your account balance and to pay your bill directly
• Customers may also sign up for AutoPay to have monthly bills automatically withdrawn from their bank
• Know your account number…because the thieves won’t
• Don’t always assume it’s CPS Energy calling, thieves are using sophisticated technology to clone our customer service phone number

If you receive a phone call at your home or business by someone claiming to be from CPS Energy and demanding payment hang up! And if someone approaches your home or business claiming to be CPS Energy, always ask for an employee ID. If you feel like you’re in immediate danger, you should call 911.

About CPS Energy

Established in 1860, CPS Energy is the nation’s largest public power, natural gas and electric company, providing safe, reliable, and competitively-priced service to 840,750 electric and 352,585 natural gas customers in San Antonio and portions of seven adjoining counties. Our customers’ combined energy bills rank among the lowest of the nation’s 20 largest cities – while generating $7 billion in revenue for the City of San Antonio for more than seven decades. As a trusted and strong Community partner, we continuously focus on job creation, economic development and educational investment. True to our People First philosophy, we are powered by our skilled workforce, whose commitment to the community is demonstrated through our employees’ volunteerism in giving back to our city and programs aimed at bringing value to our customers. CPS Energy is among the top public power wind energy buyers in the nation and number one in Texas for solar generation. For more information, visit cpsenergy.com. c