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Minnesota Energy Resources is partnering with police and sheriff’s departments across the state to share the warning signs of utility scams.

The utility company advises people to pay attention to these red flags:

• People who pretend to be from Minnesota Energy Resources by spoofing caller ID to display “Minnesota Energy Resources” or using a recording that sounds authentic.
• People who threaten to turn off your energy in a short amount of time.
• People who demand immediate payment — often with a prepaid debit card, third-party app like Zelle or Venmo, or an unusual payment method such as cryptocurrency.
• People who buy sponsored posts on search engines with Minnesota Energy Resources’ name. Be careful — scammers use these to get you to call a fake phone number and share sensitive information.
• People who show up at your door and refuse to show ID.

 What you can do

If you think a scammer is targeting you, people should hang up or close the door. Call Minnesota Energy Resources at 800-889-9508 if you have questions about a call, email or text you’ve received or to verify if someone at your door is a Minnesota Energy Resources employee. Contact your local law enforcement if you’ve fallen victim to a scam.

For more warning signs, go to the Minnesota Energy Resources website.