Bluebonnet members report increase in attempted phone-payment scams

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative members have reported a recent increase in attempted phone scams by people claiming to represent Bluebonnet. The fraudulent callers tell members their power will be disconnected unless they make a payment over the phone. These calls are not made by or on behalf of Bluebonnet.

“Attempted scams like these have been occurring across the country for several years,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “The most recent attempts have been concentrated in the Del Valle and Lockhart areas in Caldwell and Travis counties. We never contact our members and threaten to immediately disconnect their power unless payment is made over the phone. That’s not the way we do business or how we treat our members.”

Bluebonnet makes at least two attempts to remind its members with delinquent accounts – once by mail and again by a courtesy phone call – within 10 days after their payment’s due date.

If a Bluebonnet member has not received a reminder in the mail or a courtesy call about their account, and someone claiming to represent Bluebonnet calls demanding an immediate payment by phone, do not pay. Bluebonnet members who get a call from someone asking for account information or a payment on their account should not give the caller any information.

If you receive a call like that, Bluebonnet recommends that you get as much information about the caller as possible, including the phone number from which he or she is calling by caller ID. Then, report the attempted scam by calling Bluebonnet at 800-842-7708 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow that with a call to local law enforcement as soon as possible.

Bluebonnet members can check their account status 24 hours a day, every day from their computer, smartphone or tablet through the co-op’s website, bluebonnet.coop, or mobile app.