How to Spot Fake Utility Company Disconnection Threats Targeting Australian Small Businesses

Australian small businesses are increasingly targeted by scammers impersonating electricity, gas, or water providers. These fraudsters typically contact businesses via phone, email, or SMS claiming an overdue account and threatening immediate service disconnection unless payment is made urgently. This guide helps you identify the warning signs of these scams and protect your organisation from financial loss.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Remain calm and do not make any immediate payments.
2. Do not click links or open attachments in unsolicited messages.
3. Verify the claim by contacting your utility provider directly using details from a recent bill or their official website.
4. Report the suspicious communication to your IT support team.

Detailed Instructions

Identifying Common Scam Tactics

Scammers use pressure and fear to bypass your normal verification processes. Be alert for these warning signs:

• Threats of immediate disconnection within hours or minutes.
• Demands for payment via unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
• Requests for remote access to your computer to "process a refund" or "fix your account."
• Generic greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of your business name or account number.
• Poor spelling, grammar, or formatting in emails and SMS messages.
• Sender addresses that do not match the official utility company domain.

Verifying a Legitimate Utility Contact

1. Locate a recent paper or digital bill from your electricity, gas, or water provider.
2. Find the official customer service phone number printed on the bill.
3. Call that number directly. Do not use any callback number provided in the suspicious email, SMS, or voicemail.
4. Ask the representative to confirm whether your account is overdue and if disconnection action has been initiated.
5. If the provider confirms no issue exists, treat the original contact as a scam attempt.

Handling Suspicious Emails and SMS Messages

1. Do not reply to the message.
2. Do not click any embedded links or download attachments.
3. Hover over sender email addresses to inspect the full domain before interacting.
4. Forward the suspicious email to your IT provider for analysis.
5. Delete the message from your inbox and empty the deleted items folder.

What to Do If You Have Already Paid

1. Contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the transaction and request a stop or reversal.
2. Change any passwords that may have been shared or entered during the scam interaction.
3. If remote access was granted to your device, disconnect it from the internet and seek professional IT assistance.
4. Report the incident to Scamwatch via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.
5. Notify your utility provider so they can monitor your account for further fraudulent activity.