Florida Public Service Commission warns of phone scam

FLORIDA — The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is cautioning Florida residents about a phone scam posing as the PSC and targeting electric utility customers.

The scammers reportedly call customers and claim that they have been billed at a commercial rate instead of a residential rate and are due a refund. They then tell the customers that they need to provide their credit or debit card information to receive the refund.

The PSC is reminding residents that it does not issue refunds or call customers about refunds. The customer’s utility company handles refund-related issues.

Additionally, the utility company would issue a refund directly to a customer’s account, which would appear on the customer’s bill.

The PSC is urging customers to be wary of any unsolicited calls or emails claiming to be from a government agency or utility company. If you receive a call or email like this, do not provide any personal information or make any payments. Instead, hang up or delete the email and contact your utility company directly.

If you think you may have been a victim of this scam, please contact the PSC’s Consumer Assistance line at 1-800-342-3552 and the Attorney General’s Office. If you provided your credit or debit card information to the scammers, please contact your financial institution immediately.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.