Scam calls target Pocatello area
Pocatello area customers of Idaho Power Company are being targeted by scam artists.
Pocatello Police said the caller tells the victim there is a technician in their area who will shut off their power if they don’t come up with an immediate payment within an hour.
Victims are asked to put cash into a pre-paid debit card and call the scammer back with the card’s authorization number.
Those cards are a favorite of scam artists because once they have the number they can immediately obtain the cash on it. It cannot be traced or returned.
The callers are very aggressive and their calls appear to be coming from real Idaho Power Company numbers.
“There are numerous phone, mail, and email scams assaulting our community. Citizens are reminded to always check out any request and use phone numbers and emails independent of what the scammer is providing for you,” states Dianne Brush of the Pocatello Police Department.
If you are concerned about such calls, police suggest you call the company directly. In the case of Idaho Power you can check out your account balance online or by calling 1-800-488-6150 or visit their office at 301 East Benton Street in Pocatello.
