Area businesses have been targeted in a scam in which callers claim the businesses will have their utilities shut off within hours if they don’t wire a payment. A representative of Alliant Energy Corp. said some of its customers have paid out sums ranging from $1,200 to $2,000 when contacted by scammers pretending to work for the utility company. Last week restaurants and salons in the Fitchburg area were targeted. Other utility companies are seeing similar reports.
Utility companies do not threaten disconnection via phone calls and do not require immediate payment, they say. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings about utility and holiday scams.
