Scam alert issued for utility customers

RUSSELLVILLE Electric Board General Manager Derrick Moore is warning customers about scam phone calls and emails that target utility customers.

Moore said scammers are posing as utility representatives, and in some cases duplicate websites to make them appear legitimate, resulting in customers having their bank accounts drained.

He urged customers not to provide personal or financial information when responding to suspicious calls or emails.

“If a call sounds suspicious, customers should hang up and call our main office directly, so they know they are speaking with one of our customer service representatives,” Moore said. “The same applies to emails. It is always safest to call before responding.”

The Russellville Utilities main office number to verify account information is 256-3323850.

Moore also encouraged customers to take precautions during winter weather, which can create hazardous electrical conditions.

Customers should keep a safe distance from power lines, especially those which may be down or sagging after a storm and report them immediately. Residents should never touch or drive over a downed line and should always assume lines are energized.

Customers should keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials and plug them directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord. Customers should use generators only outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Customers should also protect exposed pipes, keep flashlights, batteries and charged phones available, and avoid using candles to reduce fire risk.

During outages, customers should turn off or unplug sensitive electronics to prevent damage when power returns.