Utility scam steals thousands of dollars from MKE, Appleton residents

A utility scam in the Milwaukee and Appleton area has cost residents thousands of dollars, We Energies said.

The utility company said scammers are leaving messages to We Energies customers claiming to be from the company. The scammer will tell customers that they have to pay within 30 minutes or their energy will be cut off. Customers are asked to pay in pre-paid debit cards or through services such as PayPal or Venmo.

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We Energies said that they are not making the calls, nor are they soliciting payments in a threatening manner.

The company also said that they were not disconnecting services during the pandemic.

Anyone who believes a scammer is targeting them is asked to contact 800-242-9137.

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