8007793351 - Utility Scammers

Carried by Five 9. They attempted to get my old man via the postcard gimmick this morning.

800-779-3351 Denise says this is “Smart Energy” and asks for the “PIN number on your letter.”

Based on my preliminary investigation, this may be a “slammer,” a sleazy electric utility middleman business that has been enabled by various utility deregulation schemes. Customers are signed up under deceptive premises, often with low introductory rates … then the rates go way up, and it’s hard to get out from their contract.

Basically a junk mail/telemarketing version of this:

While it is a scam in my opinion, be aware that it may be a “legitimate business” in the eyes of the law, with recourse to all the relevant rights and protections thereunder.