1/27/2022 - Increase In Reported Scam Calls
Please be aware of spam calls circulating in McKenzie Electric's territory threatening disconnection of service if payment is not received promptly. These scammers may impersonate a utility and may even use McKenzie Electric's name to sound more convincing.
If you are concerned with the payment status of your electricity bill, please check your SmartHub app or call our office to confirm your account balance.
For more information on scam prevention, follow this link to the North Dakota Attorney General website
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/scam-prevention
Steer Clear of Fake Login Pages
The KnowBe4 Security Team
KnowBe4.com
For cybercriminals, stealing your login information can be just as valuable as stealing your bank account information. If they gain access to your email and password, they may find clues in your account that they can use to create highly targeted phishing attacks against you, your organization, or your family. Once the hackers have your login information, the hackers can even sell it for payment.
How Does It Work?
A popular method used to steal your credentials is to use fake login pages to capture your login details. These types of attacks usually start with a phishing email that directs you to use a link in the email to "log in to your account". The emails are usually authentic-looking and present a seemingly normal request. If you click this link, you’re brought to a login page that looks almost identical to the one you’re used to but is actually a fake page. Once you’ve entered your email and password on the fake page, you may be redirected to the real website–leaving you unaware that your login credentials were stolen.
How Do I Spot a Fake Page?
As the first line of defense, always navigate to your account’s login page by typing the web address in your browser, or using a bookmark that you’ve saved–rather than clicking through links in an email. Also, be aware of the following tips to help you identify fake web pages:
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Pay attention to the address bar. To be on the safe side, make sure the website starts with https:// before entering any personal information.
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Check the domain name. Make sure that the website that you are on is correctly spelled and not mimicking a well-known brand or company.
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Watch for poor grammar and spelling. An excess of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar mistakes can indicate that the website was put together fairly quickly with no regard for professionalism.
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Look for reliable contact information. If you can find another way to contact the brand or company, reach out to them to confirm the email is real.
Walk away from deals that are too good to be true. Some retailers will discount older merchandise but if the latest item is also heavily discounted, walk away. It’s probably too good to be true!
Don't Fall for Disconnection Scams!
McKenzie Electric members have been receiving scam calls threatening disconnection of service in an attempt to gather your financial information. If you receive an unexpected, automated phone call from someone who claims they are a McKenzie Electric employee or an employee for a utility company, please ask for a name from the caller, hang up, and call us at 701-444-9288. We do not list options for routing your call in our disconnection calls and never ask for bank account and routing information over the phone.
For a full list of scams reported to the North Dakota Attorney General, as well as tips to avoid compromising your accounts, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3Bz5cSw
If you have any questions don't hesitate to call us.