Avista customers targeted in phone scam

Gazette intern reporter

Recently, Avista customers in the Whitman County area may have experienced being called by someone who claimed to be with Avista Utilities, demanding payment or their account would be discontinued. However, Avista, along with other companies in the region, has not been calling its customers to demand payment.

Debbie Simock with Avista Utilities told the Gazette that these phone scammers, which most recently targeted at least four residents of Coeur d'Alene, have been calling customers, saying the customers' payments are past due, they owe a set amount of money and their account will be canceled.

“We want our customers to know to be careful if a caller says they're with Avista and to call them back on a certain number,” said Simock. “Do not call! Customers must call Avista as soon as they're off the phone with scammers and verify the bill. That way, we all know you are safe and you do not suffer because of these people.”

Scam calls such as these are not uncommon, especially for Avista.

“Customers always receive these calls, even if they aren't Avista customers,” said Simock. “Avista is targeted most often due to how large of a company we are.”