03/08/2018
Several phone scams are currently targeting Peninsula Light members in the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas. The display on your telephone will be “spoofed,” meaning that it will display PenLight’s name and phone number. Protect yourself, be vigilant, and confirm with PenLight.
Scam 1: The caller impersonates PenLight, stating that the member’s account is delinquent and power will be disconnected immediately unless a payment is made using a credit or debit card or a prepaid card bought from the store. If you say you paid, he/she will ask how much you paid and then say it wasn’t received and you must pay now. Hang up and call our Member Services department at 253-857-5950 immediately. If you are not home they will leave a message telling you to call right away; however, note that the call-back number they leave is not a PenLight phone number. If you did call that number, you would hear the same phone tree in the same voice (which they copied from our phone system) as if you called PenLight. Please, never dial ANY phone number the scammers provide. Instead, hang up and call our Member Services department at 253-857-5950.
Scam 2: A member received a “robo” call, with “PenLight” plus our 888 phone number showing in the caller I.D. The member picked up the phone to an announcement that she had won a trip from PenLight and she should press “1” for more information. Luckily, as a PenLight member, she was aware that PenLight is a cooperative owned by our members. Giving away trips is not in the budget—maybe a free light bulb or a pen with our logo. If you receive a suspicious call, do not speak at all, just hang up immediately and report it to our office at 253-857-5950.
Scam 3: The caller impersonates PenLight, stating that the member’s credit card information needs to be updated and asks for them to provide it over the phone. PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE. Instead, hang up and call our Member Services department at 253-857-5950 immediately. Never dial ANY phone number the scammers provide.
We believe that at least one of our members has fallen prey to one these scams; if so, please call Member Services. Please be aware that PenLight would never ask any of its members for credit card information or to make a payment over the telephone using a prepaid card or credit card. Members with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification included with the regular monthly bill – never a single notification shortly before disconnection.