BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for

Subject: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: olddude
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 12:17 PM

Had a guy pounding on my door, he said I need to see your gas bill to verify your gas bill ... He had a tag from Easy something or other. Anyway, I kicked him out and told him never come back. These guys get your account number from National Fuel then switch you over to their high priced system and lock you into a 5 year contract. From what I read on the web many don't even know it was done until they get a very inflated gas bill ... I called the police. It seems they are working all over the US with this trick not just gas but other services like electric ... be careful, never show anyone one of your utility bills, it has your account number on it and you won't like what they will do with it. Third party gas providers or electric providers can charge pretty much what they want and you won't like it .. They resort to these tricks to scam you

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: GUEST,999
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 01:50 PM

Thanks for the heads-up, Dan.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 01:52 PM

Tell him that he can get that information from the gas company and slam the door in his face. Better yet, ask him to wait while you go get the bills, close the door and lock it, then call the police. If he's legit he can talk to the cops about it; if he's not they'll appreciate your cooperation. DO NOT let him into your house.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 01:55 PM

Oh, yes. When I answer the door I stand with my right hand behind the wooden door. That way the person on the porch can't tell what I might have in my right hand -- actually nothing, but they're not going to take a chance. It also puts me in a position where I can slam the door shut quickly if I have to do so.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: olddude
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 02:04 PM

You are most welcome . You know it seems harmless, they just want to look at your gas bill but they are actually taking your account number when they do that ... hence they switch you after they leave.. I knew exactly what he was trying to do .. I guess this company had 115 lawsuits after them in New York alone. Hope the cops had a talk with him. I also have lots of elderly around my neighborhood. Sad to say but many of them are far too trusting of people

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 02:53 PM

Reminds me of getting slammed into a phone service provider a few years back- without any notice. Only fould out when their bill arrived.
Enough hell was raised, and few paid and stayed, so not to much damage was done (except to temper and heart rate).

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: olddude
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 02:56 PM

I couldn't remember the company name so I called my police buddie
this was the company

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 03:07 PM

My mother had a visit about ten years ago by a "Gas engineer" who had to check out a supposed leak.

When she told him to shove off and tried to close the front door, he stuck his foot in it.

She reached out to the top of the gas meter cupboard, and picked up the old Victorian flat iron, which she used as a doorstop when gardening.

She held it up about five feet in the air in the gap between door and jamb.

He said "You wouldn't dare!"

Next there was a thud, a scream of pure agony, and a diminishing string of swear words, as he hopped back to his car some fifty yards away, falling over twice en route and doing even more damage to his battered person.

I watched all of this from the living room doorway, and didn't stop laughing for several hours.

I have that flat iron now, and it lives on the meter cupboard just inside my front door, and I know exactly what to do with it.

Thanks Mum!

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: gnu
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 03:15 PM

Don... I LOVE it!

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: olddude
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 05:29 PM

Don
I absolutely Love it, Priceless !!!

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Sawzaw
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 06:08 PM

First of all I don't even answer the door unless it is kids or something or somebody I know.

Nothing but grief has ever come out of a stranger knocking on my door.

I shred all my old bills or anything with account numbers or personal info.

Crooks will dumpster dive in your trash for this info.

People can set up an account in your name using utility bills as part of the ID.

My latest skirmish was when Long Duc Hong in Vietnam charged nearly $200 Australian in video games or CDs to my Visa card.

Evidently they guessed at the number and the Australian site did not request the three digits on the back of the card.

It did not cost me a dime but I had to go through the trouble of getting a new card with a different number.

Prior to that it was an attempt to charge a laptop at a site in Italy. Visa blocked that charge but I had to get a new card anyway.

I use Pay Pal whenever possible so my credit card info is not in the hands of various vendors where it can be compromised.

As far as getting physical, I would advise against it in this litigious day and age. You could get by with that years ago but nowdays the crooks always have the advantage.

They have the sympathy and you are considered the bully.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: GUEST,josep
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 09:19 PM

Some months ago, a guy knocked on my door for some energy firm--can't remember the name. He gave me this big spiel about how much cheaper my energy bills would be if I switched. I said I'd consider it but he started calling this number and this woman's voice came out of the speaker of his phone saying she could seitch me over right now but once I said yes, it was done and was I ready? I said no. She said we couldn't do business then and hung up. The guy was miffed, why didn't I want to switch?? I said that I needed time to check it out first and didn't they have a website? He said no. Now, what corporation doesn't have a website these days???

He left and I immediately went to my computer and did an online check. They DO have a website but I went to the Wikipedia site instead and wiki said this company had been fined some years back for simply switching people without their consent and locking them into long term contracts they never asked for nor wanted. I called my energy company and told them that if someone tried to switch me that it was bogus and they were the call me immediately if that happened. But nothing ever did.

Apparently, they are a legit company that employs unethical tactics. They will provide you the service in your contract but they'll do whatever they can get away with to get you into that contract. They can't just switch people over anymore so they try to bamboozle you by showing how cheap your energy will be with them and them try to get you to switch right then and there. If you say you'd like more time you get, "You won't get the savings you're going to get right now. We may not be here for another 8 months and the prices will keep going up in this economy" trying to get you to bite. Crooks.

Some lady down the street has a sign on her door that says, "IF YOU're SELLING SOMETHING, WE DON'T WANT IT!! GO AWAY!!!!" I'm thinking of doing the same thing. I usually don't even answer my door now but when I do, it's somebody selling something. GO AWAY!!

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Sawzaw
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 12:54 AM

I forgot to say that all this "membership, "free trial" and "try it for free" offers are a scam too. First, the stuff never works but they keep charging your card after you cancel and ask for a refund. Or they just keep sending the crap and charging you after you cancel.

You call them up and spend hours getting it all straightened out and then they charge you again. It just repeats over and over.

You nor the credit card company can prevent anyone from charging your credit card once they get your number. They cannot be blocked so you have to get a new card with a new number.

If you use Pay Pal, they never get your number and you have to login and manually pay every charge

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 08:51 AM

In the UK we have a cooling off period in which you can back out of contracts like this in the cold light of day. If a company did switch you without your consent you would soon know as your old company would be phoning to confirm the switchover.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 09:03 PM

Cooling off period provided in some states, but not nationally.
One's 'old company', if it has sold out or gone under, might not notify you; that was the case with the phone 'slamming' here.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 11:25 PM

I must say that this post made me laugh. It appears that Sawz has gotten bit a number of times. On the other hand, I 1) answer my door. 2) I don't shred all my old bills or anything with account numbers or personal info. 3) I have never seen crooks dumpser diving in my back yard. 4) People have never set up an account in my name using my utility bills as part of the ID. 5) Nor has "Long Duc Hong in Vietnam charged nearly $200 Australian in video games or CDs to my Visa card. 6) Nor has anyone guessed at my Visa number. 7) Nor has anyone attempted "to charge a laptop (to me) at a site in Italy. 8) Nor have I bit on "this "membership, "free trial" and "try it for free" offers (which) are a scam too. So, I have never had the experience of discovering that: "First, the stuff never works but they keep charging your card after you cancel and ask for a refund. Or they just keep sending the crap and charging you after you cancel. 9) Nor did I have to "call them up and spend hours getting it all straightened out and then they charge you again. It just repeats over and over.

Not that I would like to call him a slow learner. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: LadyJean
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 11:44 PM

I dispose of my bills in the same bag as the contents of the cat boxes. That discourages people.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Slag
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 01:34 AM

Don(WYSIWYG)T__ I'm still laughing! That's great! I live a few miles out in the wilderness, so to speak, so when I answer the door there IS something in the hand they can't see. I haven't had to answer the door too many times in 30 years but a couple of times I felt glad I keep that "insurance policy" handy.

If you stop and think for a moment, that is if you stop to ask yourself "Why would a person supposedly from MY gas/energy company ask to see MY copy of a bill THEY sent?" Of course they are frauds. The same holds true on the internet. The website that issues you a password is never going to ask you for your password. I play WOW (World of Warcraft) and scammers will sometimes come on and tell you that you have made some violation of policy and then direct you to a "lookalike" bogus site so they can check and "varify" your information. Some have such terrible english grammar that it is obviously foreign (usually China) in origin.

Thanks for the "heads up" od! I know you've helped somebody this day.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Penny S.
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 04:22 PM

I wouldn't rely on the cat litter. I spotted someone dipping a neighbour's wheelie bin which not only contained cat litter, but also babies disposable nappies (diapers).

My local council will not take shredded paper now! I'm having to compost it.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 07:46 PM

I tear my name, address & account details out of all bills/statements/business letters before putting them in the recycling bins inside envelopes or bags, never loose. These bits are also torn up & mixed in with my general rubbish.

After a neighbour's sudden death his friends just dumped all his paperwork in the recycling bin, but as his account was closed it probably didn't matter (tho there just might be a new person of that name somewhere in the financial system). However, I have also seen bills from (living) neighbours in our recycling bin. When see them I try to tuck them into the newspapers etc.

It was great when I worked for a govt agency where staff were permitted to dispose of personal confidential paperwork in the DUS system. DUS = Destroy under Supervision - official forms & working notes etc. went into locked bins then off to a secure recycling facility & eventually became cardboard.

Penny, a local pet shop has a sign in it's window asking for shredded paper & promising that the puppies & kittens won't read the details!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 08:01 PM

Yeah, I had one of these jerks at my door too (in Canada) a short time ago. He kept insisting that his company was giving me a cheaper rate for my utility bills, and that it was in my interests to sign up. I refused to sign up, said I would never sign anything at my door, and asked him to give me literature which I could study. He would not take "no" for an answer and we kept going round and round for at least 15 or 20 minutes. All the while there was a young woman standing by looking a bit uncomfortable. I gather he was training her in how to get a "yes" from any potential mark out there.

I simply absolutely refused to do what he wanted and eventually got fairly rude about it, and he finally left with a disgruntled look on his face. I carefully studied the piece of literature he left, compared their rates to my present rates, and discovered that their rates were more expensive than what I'm paying now. ;-) It was complicated how they were doing it, and at a quick glance it looked like their way was cheaper....but not when you studied the varying rates for peak hours and off hours in my present plan. Theirs was a flat rate that sounded good...but it ended up being more expensive overall than what I already have.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 05:03 PM

I have been hit 3 times. The other things I mentioned were warnings of scams I know about so either take the advice or not.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: open mike
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 05:38 PM

US Energy Savings, Just Energy, what a scam!

I wonder if they are in california and if they
haveprograms trying to "steal" P G & E customers?

i get my propane delivered by a truck, and so
this is a different situation.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 01:23 PM

Just got an on line variant on the above from a company called PayPower. Blocked them as a scam but be aware, the bad guys never stop coming at you.

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 02:57 PM

Wrong again, thought this would be about British Gas profit announcement after putting up prices this winter

Subject: RE: BS: New Gas/Energy Scam watch out for
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Mar 13 - 03:28 PM

Some have such terrible english grammar that ...

The bad language in the spam/phishing emails is actually intentional, according to the "experts."

Although it only costs a little to send emails, in order to "catch a fish" it often takes quite a lot of back and forth communication to get the hook set. Since they have to have hundreds - or thousands - of fish on the line to get a few that actually pay off, and some individual writing is required for a decent yield, there really is quite a lot of "work" involved.

By eliminating those bright enough to ignore anything with really bad grammar, they increase the odds that those they lead on will give them a higher percentage of "catches."

The spammers and scammers consider lists of those who don't respond nearly as valuable as the lists of those who might, and there are very active markets for transaction on both kinds - which means that sending a smart-assed reply back (to let them know how smart you are?) gets you on a list that they'll make a little money from.

A couple of quite analytical studies have given "return efficiency" estimates, based both on purely statistical analyses and also on traffic studies. I don't have a link handy but might be able to suggest a link to a couple of them if I get over being too lazy to look.

Targeted phishing (spear phishing) where they know specific persons they want to get to never have similar poor grammar (unless they know in advance that the boss they pretend has sent you the email is incredibly stupid?).

John