BBB warns of home energy scams

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Your Local4 Scam Alert of the Week is focusing on your power bill and more importantly the people who are looking to scam you because of it.

Inherently, temperatures rise for the summer and for those of us who enjoy our air conditioning - so does our energy bill. Josh Planos, the public relations director for the Better Business Bureau, says scammers are very well aware of the added cost of air in the summer. So much so that they offer up deals to lower those bills and will go as far as to meet you in person about the deals they offer.

”They might even ask to tour your home to legitimize the process, but in the end, the equipment promised to you won’t be delivered, the savings won’t exist,” Planos said. “You’ll be charged for fees waiting for them to come out to your home or them doing a virtual walk-through of your home.”

As with most scams, Planos said the scammers will usually prompt you for some kind of investment before they provide any services.

”Don’t agree to anything on the spot,” he said. “That is a rule you can follow across the board. No matter how good the deal is or how urgent the seller might make it seem, it’s really important to take that time for yourself to give yourself a breath, give yourself some space to actually evaluate what’s being requested of you.”

Also, if you don’t trust the person trying to offer you a discount on your energy bill, Planos says there’s an easy way to cross-check the potential scammer.

Go to the source,” he said. “Contact your local government agency or utility company directly to confirm whether or not they are actually offering energy audit services. It’s the quickest way to find out if you’re dealing with an imposter or someone who has a legitimate operation.”

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