Utility Bill Refund Email is a Scam

Beware of email offering $480 home heating refund

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 10, 2007

Home Heating Costs • Heating Costs To Fall This Winter • Consumers Face Higher Heating Bills • Consumer Energy Costs Skyrocketing • Utility Bill Refund Email is a Scam • Winter Heating Costs Projected To Hit Record Highs • Biofuels Moving to the Suburbs • Speculation Driving Natural Gas Prices, Report Charges • Consumers Sweating Over Home Heating Bills • Global Pressures Pushing Oil Prices Higher • Consumers Face Sharply Higher Heating Costs • Consumer Group Wants Ban on Exports of Heating Oil • Oil Prices Jump Despite 'Light' Hurricane Damage

With winter on the way and the U.S. Department of Energy predicting a sharp increase in heating bills, consumers are likely looking for any feasible way to cut expenses.

Scammers are apparently playing on those concerns in hopes of snagging the unwary in a new phishing scheme.

DOE says scammers are sending out spam email, pretending to be from the federal agency. DOE says it believes the purpose of the scheme is to infect victims’ computers with malware that will allow hackers to steal sensitive information, such as user names and passwords.

The subject line in the email says “Urgent Notification” and informs the recipient that an analysis of their bills shows they are due a refund from DOE for $480.58. To receive the refund, they must click on a link in the message. Doing so, says DOE, infects the computer.

DOE says the email appears to come from refund@energy.gov. The agency says that address does not exist. DOE also said it does not collect revenue from, or issue refunds to, the general public via email.

More Scam Alerts ...

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