The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) are alerting Wisconsinites to a potential “spoofing” scam. “Spoofing” is when a caller ID, email address, or other form of contact identification is falsified to trick recipients into trusting a fraudulent message.
The PSC has received several reports of small businesses and property owners receiving calls that appear to come from the official PSC phone number. In reality, however, these calls come from scammers who impersonate the PSC, threaten to disconnect the target’s utility services, and demand payment.
Wisconsinites are reminded that the PSC will never make calls to threaten utility disconnection, demand payment over the phone, or ask for personal financial information.
For more information and consumer protection resources or to file a complaint, visit DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage or the Consumer Protection Hotline.
Consumers or property owners who receive a suspicious phone call claiming to come from the PSC are encouraged to contact the PSC right away by calling at 1-800-225-7729.
