Are you having trouble paying your utility bill? Don’t worry, President Obama has authorized credits to your account through a new national program. Sound too good to be true? It is.
This multi-state scam has con artists posing as utility company representatives. The catch? They want your Social Security Number along with your credit card and bank routing information. Ugh.
Some victims have been given fraudulent bank account numbers and have been asked to use this account when paying their utility bills. You can imagine what happened next. Remember, you should never give a stranger your personal sensitive information.
People have been targeted by phone, text message, through social media and in person for this scam so stay alert, and stay safe! You can always report scams, get e-mail alerts, and read tips at www.bbb.org/scam.
Thanks to the Montana Public Service Commission for bringing this scam to my attention through their recent press release.
Thanks for scam update. It’s really weird sounds president Obama will pay our utility bill, I mean why he’ll do such job. Anyways hopefully everyone is aware.
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I HEARD ABOUT THIS SCAM TODAY IN JACKSON, MS., IT SOUNDED TO GOOD TO BE TRUE SO I GOOGLED IT AND IT WAS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, BUT I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT WITHOUT AT FIRST DOING RESEARCH.
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smh…..i heard about this so-called rebate today in starkville, ms from a person that lives in illinois. Well, I was reluctant at first but tried it anyway. I didnt have to pay any money or give any personal information out. I was given a routing number to a bank in UT and entered those red numbers on the back of my social security card. I have paid several bills and not all utility bills either. I was told the limit was up to $1000. Every payment that I’ve made has gone through and I even received confirmation numbers as well. I would hate to think this was a scam but if it is………it’s a darn good one!! So now what do I do?
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im trying to find the routing number that I am supposed to use to pay for my bills and is there an account number?
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Hi ladysha318,
Did your bills ever come back unpaid? What ended up happening?
Thank you,
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I’ve paid a few bills and even received confirmation numbers!! Has any of your been reversed?
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hey, i also tried it and mine went through and payed so what dose all this mean? what will happpen? what happend with yours may i ask. thanks kristy
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I think , no I know that I maybe caught up in a national scam… What dod I do from here? I am notifiying my utility companies is there something else that I should be doing as well?
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I believe that I was involved in a national scam for obama to pay my utilities. What do I need to do from my end?
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I beleieve that I am caught up in a national scam! the obama rebate to pay your utilities. I am notifying the electric company now. Is there any thing else that I should be doing?
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Grillane: It depends on whether or not you gave out your personal information. For example, if you gave the scammers your credit card information you would want to call your credit card company and your bank ASAP. If you gave out your social security number, you would want to call the three major credit reporting agencies–Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and ask them to notify you of any suspicious activity over the next 90 days and beyond. You can help get the word out also by calling your local news media to see if they’ll run a story.
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I didnt think to research it first! I called my utility company and gave them the information that was passed to me smh… How do we correct this in order to not have to pay for it in the long run. I also was told to add the red numbers on the back of my social security card to the routing number. The payment did go through.
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hi, i also heard about this but i havent tried it. The person has not given me the information yet on what i have to do. But if u can please email me what to do cause scam or not I GOT BILLS lbvs thank you. My email mook142003@yahoo.com my name is Angel. Thanks again!
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I NEED INFO only if it IS NOT A SCAM!!!!
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what number u use ?????????
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I TOO WAS ALSO SCAM BUT THOUGHT IT WAS REAL,I TOLD MY FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT IT ALSO.WE DID PAY OUR BILLS AND IT DID GO THREW THATS WHEN I REALLY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS REAL.OMG WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE I FEEL REALLY BAD THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE LOCKED UP.NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK AND TELL EVERYBODY I TOLD.PLEASE SOMEONE TELL US WHERE TO GO FROM HERE AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT.
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I knew it was to good to be true…that was a good dam scam bout the $1000. I called everybody and their mama. Cause times are hard and everybody need a little relief on bills
I’m from Memphis, Tn and have been SCAM!!!!!
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I don’t understand the problem, we have another bail out for those in need, it couldn’t have came @ a better time, people r reporting this information 2 utility companies & messing up everyone else blessing, If u don’t want 2 be apart of the blessing, don’t ruin it for others
my husband & I tried 2 pay our utility bill, unfortunately the account & routing number had already been reported as a scam, by someone that doesn’t have 150% proof that’s it’s not legit 
However, thank God for some other companies that’s accepting the Obama bail out incentive for voting, we paid off a few companies, so people if u need, pay your bills on the government for up to $1000 
accept your blessing, for those in need only ….
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I payed my bills as well and told a couple family members, so i hope this is a bail out incentive and not a scam because we show needed that extra help!!!
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Hello everyone, thanks for your comments. First, people need to understand that just because a check clears does not mean the check is good. In a fake check scam, scammers send you a check and tell you to deposit it and then wire money somewhere else. If you don’t “flag” the check by telling the bank how you got it, it will take a few months for the bank’s fraud department to come back and tell you the check is fake. Then you have to pay back all the money you spent against it and you’ve wired off your good money to scammers.
Second, if you remember the rebate checks that came from the government a few years ago, they did not tell you to deposit anything in a special account. They simply arrived. Period. No futher manipulation necessary. When a stranger tells you to “deposit money in this account; here is the routing number” you are giving that stranger money. Not your utility company that you regularly pay your bills to. For example, my utilities company is Avista. Paying some guy in a bank in Utah does not get money to Avista. Sure, my “payments” will “go through”…to the scammer.
Third, government agencies and many utility companies are warning that this is a scam. Trust this information. If there truly was a program under President Obama, these folks would know about it. So would President Obama.
Fourth, Pattiannedoll, reporting suspected scams to utility companies does not “mess up everyone else’s blessings.” For example, folks were very suspicious of last year’s CCF Settlement checks that came out of a court decision about the credit card companies charging fees overseas and the court received thousands of calls about it. Did this stop people from getting their money? No. Checks still went out and everyone who was entiteld to the money received it. Why? Because unless this scam, that was a legitimate legal settlement.
If anyone is still unsure about whether or not this is a scam, you don’t have to take my word for it. Call your bank. Call your utility company. Call your local police station. Call the FBI. These are all resources to help people learn the truth.
Thanks–
Holly
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Hello Everyone
I just read breaking news 
the Barach Obama Baiiout Is a Scam 
We were all fooled, the bills are going to return in a few days unpaid, this scam has been going on for 2 weeks 
Oh Well, At least the happiness of getting help lasted for a weekend 
2 good 2 B true is right 
Wow!! We r all in need or desperate for money, because we r struggling, Just hang on people, this will all end soon, God Holy word promise us a day of happiness, with plenty of food, equal ness, homes for ourselves, no more death, heart ache, pain, the world shall b at peace soon & very soon 
Much Love 2 All & continue 2 work hard & make wise decisions 
Pattiannedoll “a friend born for when theirs distress”
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Hi everyone: A further word on sources of assistance…you know, at the BBB we are very focused on helping people identify scams because in a bad financial situation, you don’t want to go from the frying pan to the fire, so to speak. But we also serve as a referral source to assistance for people, so I have some ideas. Pattiannedoll and Angel, and anybody else who is really struggling: here they are.
Contact your utility company directly at a real and legitimate number and ask for help. Ask what programs they have in place. For example, in my city, there is a first-come, first-served fund every winter that we can donate to which is given to people having trouble paying their electric bill. There may be other programs in your town. The key is to contact the real company, not someone who cold-calls or emails you.
We also have a food bank. All you have to do to apply is to show up with a bill proving you live in the area and photo ID.
Contact a referral agency or social services in your area…around here we dial 211. If you don’t know of one or where to find one, call your local BBB and ask. Or a church–lots of times they’re also hooked into the food bank. Many area churches here serve free dinners to those in need.
If you’re elderly, the Area Agency on Aging may help…they’re all over.
So those are some places to start. I hope it helps.
Thanks,
Holly
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I got a call earlier and was told to try this. I did not have to give my information to anyone at all, I just signed into my Electric Company Website, and entered the Routing number and number on the back of my SSN card. It went through.
To further test, I ordered from Amazon, and got a shipment notification.
If this is a Scam, what will happen next? Will Amazon call and ask for their product back?
I do not understand!
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I too was also scam, good thing it was just 47 dollar bill I had to pay! omg!
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yes I want to know what gonna happen next. Ths is crazy!
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I was scammed in Michigan. What are the steps I need to do to remedy this.
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Everybody who is asking what to do if you’ve been scammed: A good option would be to take a two-pronged approach. One prong: complain and report. Complain to your local utility company so they’re aware, tell your neighbors and friends so they don’t fall for it, see if your local newspaper will run a story, or if your local police will handle a complaint. If not they may direct you to further resources such as the FBI, or the Internet Crime Reporting Center at http://www.i3c.gov. The Federal Trade Commission would be a good place to file a complaint and may direct you further.
Scambusters lists more resources for reporting complaints: (http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters21.html)
To clarify, the BBB is a good place to report scams, but not to complain about them. What’s the difference? BBB complaints are sent to legitimate companies with real addresses and most companies respond to them. With a scam, you want law enforcement and government regulatory agencies.
Prong 2: Protect yourself. Contact your bank, explain the situation, and ask for their advice. Can you get your money back? Do you need to change your routing numbers? Did you give out your SSN–if so, contact the 3 major reporting agencies: Experien, Equifax and TransUnion, and ask to have a 90 day alert placed on your account. I forget the exact name of it, but basically if they see suspicious activity it will be flagged for them to contact you.
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Vtnails: You could also contact the Michigan State Attorney General’s office.
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Brittany: I don’t know what Amazon will do…you could call them and make them aware that you think you were scammed and ask their advice on that part of it. You should probably contact your bank to find out where your money is and if you can get it back or if any of your account numbers have been compromised. They should have experience with this sort of situation. You may need to see a manager or somebody higher up.
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I can’t believe all the idiots crying what do I do now. Dig a hole, crawl in and pull the sod over you. What were you thinking. NEVER offer up your SSAN or ANY bank info without checking it out first. If I offered to give you a million dollars if you only sent me 1000, would you do it. Hell no. Why? Because it sounds too good to be true. So, what makes you think someone else is going to pay your bills? Oh Right. Obama, that’s right. I forgot, he has all the extra money to spend. Grow up People. There IS NO FREE LUNCH!!! I can’t say it any planer. In today’s world of internet, cell phones, and all the technology we have, how can people still fall for this shit. Check it out!!!
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I jst received a routing number and was told to use my red numbers on back of my ss card. I did it and then researched it. I should have researched it first but nw i have learned the hard way.
Man this is really bad. What can they do with the red numbers on the back f yiur SS card?
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my sister did this today it paid her 420.00 bill but where did the money come from? and what should she do about it what will happen next?
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