Entergy Arkansas Urges Customers, Public to Be Wary of New Scams

06/02/2015

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Sally Graham

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Entergy Arkansas is working with law enforcement authorities after scam artists used the utility's return address in an online job offer scam. The scam involves job offers posted on craigslist, an online classified advertisements website with sections such as jobs and housing that also provides local classifieds and forums for five Arkansas cities.

"We're taking time to inform our customers and the general public to always be on alert," said Brady Aldy, vice president of customer service, Entergy Arkansas, Inc. "We're a victim in this scam, too, and we're helping get the word out about this common type of online scam."

The scam actually involves several illegal acts to pull off: The thief will try to lure as many people as possible with a "no experience necessary, immediate start" job offer posted on craigslist. Victims only communicate via email or text, providing personal details in their need for employment. While the person seeking employment may have reservations, the scam artist makes excuses why a telephone or face-to-face job interview is not possible. The victim accepts the job offer and is told a check will be sent to them before the employer and employee have ever met. This payment is often described to be used to purchase furniture for their office, or payment up front for the job, or for training.

The con artist then sends a counterfeit check with the routing number and account number belonging to a private business that has already been stolen by the thief. The victim is asked to deposit the check and then wire a certain amount of money to another source. Some banks will recognize the check with no watermark as counterfeit, but if the check is held and the victim follows the scam artist's direction, they will lose their money.

The con artist used Entergy Arkansas' return address and the transactions have recorded Little Rock postmarks. For more information on how to avoid falling for a craigslist scam, visit http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

Entergy Arkansas would also like to remind customers we do not knock on doors demanding immediate payment under threat to disconnect electric service. As the temperature heats up, scam artists will likely also make calls asking for immediate payment. If a call sounds suspicious, hang-up and call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) to speak directly with an Entergy customer service representative. For more information on tips to avoid utility scams, visit http://entergy.com/scams/

Visit us online for a number of ways to manage convenient billing and payment options: http://entergy-arkansas.com/your_home/mypaymentoptions/

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $12 billion and approximately 13,000 employees.

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