EXTRA NOW THAT I THINK SO TRY
YEAR ALL THANKS KEN.
ALL RIGHT WE'RE SCAM CALL
IS NOT ANYTHING NEW IN THIS
DAY AND AGE AND IT IS ALWAYS
ISSUE BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOW
MORE VULNERABLE AS WE ENTER
THE HOLIDAYS UNDER SOME OF
THESE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS,
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC HAS
SEEN AN UPTICK RECENTLY IN
QUESTIONS RELATING TO SCAM
CALLS.
STEVE COURSON JOINS US LIVE
THIS MORNING WITH MORE ON THE
ACTIVITY THERE TRACKING AND
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. GOOD
MORNING.
ABSOLUTELY WHAT TYPES OF SCAMS
ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW WHAT
SHOULD PEOPLE BE WATCHING OUT
FOR.
SO REALLY IT'S ALWAYS A
VARIATION OF THE SAME THING
YOU'LL GET A CALL OR AN EMAIL
OR TEXT FROM SOMEBODY IS
CLAIMING TO BE A PART GENERAL
ELECTRIC. NOW TELL YOU THAT
GOING TO BILL AND THEY'RE
GOING TO CUT OR CAN LET YOU
USUALLY WITH A PREPAID CREDIT
CARD. AND THAT'S JUST NOT
TRUE. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO
APPROACH IT THAT WAY EVEN IN A
YOU UP WITH THAT KIND OF
IMMEDIATE THREAT AND USE A
CREDIT CARD SO. IF GET A CALL
LIKE THAT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED
TO DO. IS CONTACT IS ANY
INFORMATION THEY GIVE YOU TO
CONTACT US GO TO OUR WEBSITE
OR YOU KNOW CALL OUR CUSTOMER
SERVICE LINE AND CHECK YOUR
ACCOUNT. THAT YOU YOU NEVER
GET THAT KIND OF CALL FROM A
YOU GET CUT OFF UNLESS YOU
MAKE OF PREPAID CREDIT
PAYMENT.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF
UTILITIES ARE PREVENTED FROM
SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL, I KNOW THAT GOES FOR A
COUPLE THINGS COME TO MIND
ELECTRICITY IS SOMETHING ELSE
OR HOW HOW STEVE CAN CAN
PEOPLE PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THE MAIN THING IS TO GO
DIRECTLY TO US FOR INFORMATION
DON'T RELY ON SOMEONE WHO
AN EMAIL OR TEXT FOR FREE
INFORMATION. GO TO DEPARTMENT
CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT OR CALL OUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER 10 TO
WHAT WHERE IT STANDS THAT IS
YOUR ACCOUNT. THE OTHER
IMPORTANT THING THERE IS TO
REMEMBER THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
CIRCUMSTANCES AND LIKE YOU SAY
RIGHT NOW DURING THE PANDEMIC
WE'RE NOT RESIDENTIAL
DISCONNECTIONS SO ON THE FACE
OF IT IS SOMEBODY CALLS THAT
TAKE THE POWER TO YOUR HOME.
IT'S A DRAW. THEY'RE THEY'RE
NOT CALLING FOR GENERAL.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD
THING TO KEEP IN MIND,
ESPECIALLY THIS DAY AND AGE
BUT YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE
STRESSED RIGHT NOW IT'S THE
HOLIDAYS, YOU GOT A MILLION
THIS HAPPENS AND SOMEONE GETS
FRAZZLED AND THEY REALIZE
THEY'VE THEY'VE SENT A CARD TO
A SCAMMERS YOU KNOW, SOMEONE'S
GOT AWAY WITH SOMETHING. WHAT
THE NEED TO REACH OUT TO YOU
GUYS TO THE NEED TO GET LAW
ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED.
THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO
ASK THEY CAN ALSO IT TO THE
STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR
GUIDANCE ON HOW TO HELP AND I
THINK THE FEDERAL TRADE
COMMISSION ALSO HAS TIPS ON
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE BEEN
SCAMMED THE OTHER THING TO
KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IF YOU
ARE BEHIND THAT YOUR BILL
CONTACT US SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER BECAUSE HE CAN DO WITH
ACTING WITH FINANCIAL
AND ALSO WITH PAYMENT PLANS
FOR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
BE MORE REASONABLE FOR YOUR
YOUR BUDGET THE OTHER THING
YOU. YEAH SITUATION THE OTHER
CALL FROM A CLARK COUNTY THE
ALL-TIME A RECORDED CALL SOME
FEDERAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE
MONEY MAY BE IN THE CARES ACT
OR MAYBE AND THIS OTHER THING
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO
FOR FOLKS, STEVE WHO
EXPRESSES SOME FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTIES THERE IS PD DOING
ANYTHING ABOUT ABOUT LATE
FEES.
YES WE ARE DURING THE
PANDEMIC WE HAVE NOT BEEN JUST
CONNECTING RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS AND ALSO NOT
CHARGING LATE FEES. SO THAT'S
YOU KNOW 2 THINGS TO KEEP IN
MIND THAT CAN'T LAST FOREVER.
BUT AT THIS POINT THAT'S THE
THAT'S THE STATE THINGS THAT
BACK TO THAT POINT YOU'RE
STILL USING ELECTRICITY AND
GETTING CHARGED FOR IT SO IF
YOU'RE IF YOU'RE GETTING
BEHIND IN YOUR BILL IF THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE
PAYING YOUR BILL.
IF YOU CONTACT US SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER AND WE CAN
RESOURCES TO MAYBE CATCH UP OR
BUT IN PLACE A PAYMENT PLAN
IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR YOU,
IT'S A LOT HARDER TO CATCH UP,
BUT YOU'VE GOT A BIG BALANCE
THAT IT IS IF YOU CALL A
SENIOR AND GET HELP.
CERTAINLY ALL RIGHT. THANKS
STEVE. AND OF COURSE ALWAYS
WANT TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE
SOURCE THERE TOO AVOID ANY OF
THESE SCAMMERS STEVE COURSON