Hawaiian Electric is advising customers to be wary of scammers using scare tactics and trickery, pretending to be the utility and threatening to disconnect customers’ electric service unless “overdue” bills are cleared with prepaid debit cards.
Hawaiian Electric is advising customers to be wary of scammers using scare tactics and trickery, pretending to be the utility and threatening to disconnect customers’ electric service unless “overdue” bills are cleared with prepaid debit cards.
In one recent incident, a business paid thousands of dollars to a scammer using MoneyPak cards. On another call, the scammer pretended to be a Hawaiian Electric executive as he attempted to get a customer to pay.
Hawaiian Electric customers across five islands are reminded that the moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment has been extended through May 31. Calls or other communications threatening immediate disconnection are scams and should be reported to Hawaiian Electric.
Hawaiian Electric does not accept the following types of payment: cash app, Bitcoin, gift cards or prepaid debit cards.
Customers should note that while the moratorium ends May 31, it won’t trigger immediate disconnections. Customers having difficulty paying their bill are urged to submit a payment arrangement request to ensure uninterrupted service.
