BED Warns of Scam Threatening to Cut Power unless Customers Make Immediate Payment; Encourage Customers to Hang Up and Report Scam
Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) is warning customers of a phone scam today. In a sudden surge of calls, the scammers claim to be from Burlington Electric Department, threaten customers that their power will be shut off in the next 30 minutes if they do not pay their bill, demand payment, and provide an 800 number that customers should call to make payments. If customers call the 800 number, they will hear the actual BED phone tree message providing options, including customer service and bill pay options. Selecting the customer service/bill pay option will lead the caller to a person claiming to be from BED.
This person is not from BED.
Please be advised that this is a scam. BED never would treat its customers in this manner. BED does not have an 800 number. If you receive such a call, please hang up.
BED recommends that their customers:
- Do not provide payment or personal information;
- Do not engage with the caller;
- Do not call back that number; and
- Call customer service at 802.865.7300 to report the scam and any details, including the number the call came from, the caller’s name, and what the caller said.
Customers also are encouraged to report this scam to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800.649.2424 or at https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/scam-prevention-through-awareness-and-education.
BED thanks our customers for their diligence in recognizing and alerting us to this scam.
burlingtonelectric.com Burlington, VT – 10.8.2025.
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