Scam artists claiming to be with Cumberland Electric have been targeting several businesses in the Hendersonville area.
One of the victims said the number they're using has been the same as the company's but the caller ID has been spoofed, meaning the originating number was not the same.
Lois Wheeler, owner of Bellezza Beauty Salon and Med Spa in Hendersonville, has considered herself sharp and on top of things, but just last week she got taken for $2,000 when she paid what she thought was her past-due Cumberland Electric bill.
"I called them back, they had all my account information, they were very much on top of my previous payment history, everything," said Wheeler, who normally gets a similar bill and that's part of the reason why she didn't question the charges. She said they even had the amount of her last payment.
Wheeler was busy and didn't get a chance to check her statement on her computer until later, that's when she realized she'd been scammed.
Wheeler said the fake company tried to call her again.
"They told me I needed to pay the same amount again because the payment didn't go through the first time," Wheeler said.
She contacted police instead of making a second payment.
Detective Sergeant Jim Vaughn said it's not the first time he has heard of this scam.
"It could happen to anyone at any time," said Vaughn.
He said spoofing has not been illegal unless it's used to commit a crime, and it's very hard to prosecute this crime when it crosses state boundaries, let alone when it's done overseas.
Vaughn said the best thing anyone can do is avoid calling the number given by the scammer.
"Check the back of your credit card or verify the number with your utilities company," said Vaughn.
He said companies rarely ever call to collect money and people should never make payments over the phone if they're unsure of who the money is going to.
