$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake utility restoration scam
Scammers impersonate utility companies after disasters, calling or texting residents to demand payment for expedited power, water, or gas restoration that would otherwise happen through normal recovery operations.
“disaster scam”
↑ 500%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers call or text residents in disaster areas impersonating their electric, water, or gas utility, claiming they can expedite service restoration for a fee.
2
They create urgency by warning that without payment, restoration could take weeks longer, and demand payment through untraceable methods.
3
Victims pay 100-500 dollars, but restoration happens according to the utility's normal schedule, and the scammer is long gone.
What to do first
Utility companies never charge fees to prioritize restoration — call your utility directly using the number on your bill to verify any communication.
Related terms
utility company impersonation scamfake power restorationNatural disaster scamsPhoneSurgingHomeownersDisaster victimsSeniorsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited Statesutility company impersonation scamfake power restoration
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Priya, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate natural disaster scams situation while using Phone. Scammers call or text residents in disaster areas impersonating their electric, water, or gas utility, claiming they can expedite service restoration for a fee.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They create urgency by warning that without payment, restoration could take weeks longer, and demand payment through untraceable methods.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims pay 100-500 dollars, but restoration happens according to the utility's normal schedule, and the scammer is long gone.
The outcome
Priya realized something was wrong when caller demands payment to move you to the front of the utility restoration queue. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Utility companies never charge fees to prioritize restoration — call your utility directly using the number on your bill to verify any communication. Priya's experience shows why caller demands payment to move you to the front of the utility restoration queue and payment must be made by gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Caller demands payment to move you to the front of the utility restoration queue
- Payment must be made by gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer
- Caller ID shows the utility company name but the callback number is different
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Utility companies never charge fees to prioritize restoration — call your utility directly using the number on your bill to verify any communication.
- ✓Check your utility's official outage map and restoration timeline online or through their official app.
- ✓Report utility impersonation to your utility company, state public utility commission, and the FTC.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The Edison Electric Institute reported that utility impersonation scams increase 5x in the weeks following major disaster events, with losses totaling over 12 million dollars in 2024.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Utility companies never charge fees to prioritize restoration — call your utility directly using the number on your bill to verify any communication.
- ✓Check your utility's official outage map and restoration timeline online or through their official app.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The Edison Electric Institute reported that utility impersonation scams increase 5x in the weeks following major disaster events, with losses totaling over 12 million dollars in 2024.
Edison Electric Institute 2024 Consumer Protection Report
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Homeowners, Disaster victims, Seniors
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Phone — Natural disaster scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Homeowners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The Edison Electric Institute reported that utility impersonation scams increase 5x in the weeks following major disaster events, with losses totaling over 12 million dollars in 2024.
Source notes
- Edison Electric Institute 2024 Consumer Protection Report
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake utility restoration scam
How does the fake utility restoration scam work?+
Scammers call or text residents in disaster areas impersonating their electric, water, or gas utility, claiming they can expedite service restoration for a fee. They create urgency by warning that without payment, restoration could take weeks longer, and demand payment through untraceable methods. Victims pay 100-500 dollars, but restoration happens according to the utility's normal schedule, and the scammer is long gone.
What are the warning signs of fake utility restoration scam?+
Caller demands payment to move you to the front of the utility restoration queue Payment must be made by gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer Caller ID shows the utility company name but the callback number is different
What should I do if I encounter fake utility restoration scam?+
Utility companies never charge fees to prioritize restoration — call your utility directly using the number on your bill to verify any communication. Check your utility's official outage map and restoration timeline online or through their official app. Report utility impersonation to your utility company, state public utility commission, and the FTC.
Who is most at risk for fake utility restoration scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Disaster victims, Seniors. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Phone.
Is fake utility restoration scam getting worse?+
fake utility restoration scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.