Scammers take advantage when widespread power outages occur. Don’t fall victim to their tricks.
When severe weather knocks out your electricity, scammers sometime see an opportunity. They may contact you posing as a Bandera Electric Cooperative employee, urging you to act quickly and provide personal information to restore service.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers might say they’re sorry your power is out and offer reimbursement but first require your bank account information. Or they might say there’s an error in their system and ask you to hand over personal information before they can restore power. They might even threaten to leave your utilities off if you don’t send money immediately.
Don’t fall for these lies.
Always communicate with BEC through official channels, such as by visiting BanderaElectric.com or by calling 866.226.3372. Your safety and personal information are worth taking a moment to pause and verify unknown senders. If something feels off about a call or message, trust your instincts—it’s always better to double-check than to risk compromising your personal or financial information.
The Federal Communications Commission and BEC recommend taking these actions if you receive a call you think might be a scam.
If you get a suspicious call, thank the caller and hang up. Never call a number left in a voicemail, text or email by a suspicious source. If you’re worried, contact the co-op directly using a trusted number.
If you get a call out of the blue and the caller claims you have to pay a past-due bill or your electricity or other services will be shut off, never give banking information over the phone. To pay your bill over the phone, always place the call to a number you know is legitimate.
Scammers rely on panic to cloud your judgment. Take a breath, slow down and remember that we will always give you time and options to resolve an account issue.
If the caller tells you to pay by gift card, cash reload card, money transfer or cryptocurrency, it’s a scam. You can report suspicious calls to the FCC at fcc.gov/consumers or to your local authorities to help protect others in your community.
Sharing your experience with neighbors and fellow members is one of the most effective ways to stop scammers from finding their next victim.
As a member-owned cooperative, BEC is committed to transparent, respectful communication with every member we serve. If you’re ever unsure whether a message is legitimate, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Protecting you from fraud is something we take seriously, and no question is too small when your security is at stake.