Iowa leads the way in record wave of utility scams
A record number of Alliant Energy customers have reported scam phone calls, the utility reported. Of the 416 reports since Dec. 1, 265 came from Iowa. The rest were from Wisconsin. Customers told the company that the scammers are getting better at imitating company workers. Some are sending text messages or showing up at front doors. Roughly 75 percent of complaints come from business customers. Typically, scammers call customers claiming to represent Alliant Energy and threaten to shut off service unless the customer buys a prepaid credit card to make a payment. In one case, a customer reported receiving a text message from someone stating that they worked for Alliant Energy and needed a call about their bill. Alliant Energy does not request immediate payment or prepaid credit cards. The utility also does not send text messages threatening to disconnect service.