TAMPA (FOX 13) -
Tampa Electric Company
is warning customers of a scam that has fooled several people into handing over debit card information.
According to TECO, someone
has been calling up customers demanding a prepaid debit card if they want to
continue service.
TECO says the caller
has been telling customers they are overdue on payment, and they must go to a
local drug store and buy a prepaid debit card. The caller then instructs the
customer to hand over the information for that card.
The company says at
least five people have fallen for the trick, and officials said Wednesday that
TECO will never call and ask for credit card or debit card numbers, so never
give out that information.
If you have a question,
you can call these numbers:
-- Hillsborough: (813) 223-0800
-- Polk: (863) 299-0800
-- All other areas: 1 (888) 223-0800
Earlier this summer, we
reported that someone was calling customers claiming a new government program
would help pay their bills. That, too, was a scam, TECO said.
