DAFTER, Mich. (October 21, 2021) – As scam calls once again surge across the Eastern Upper Peninsula, Cloverland Electric Cooperative warns business and residential members to stay alert of calls threatening to disconnect electrical service or demanding immediate payment by phone. Scam callers identify themselves as representatives from Cloverland Electric and use legitimate (906) area phone numbers to target the cooperative’s business and residential members.
Signs of a scam call include a sense of urgency and actions that do not align with cooperative protocol, including:
- Threatening to disconnect service if payment is not made immediately by phone;
- Demanding a pre-paid credit card so there is no dispute with the bank;
- A specific name or truck number of the person coming to disconnect service.
Members should be aware that Cloverland’s member services team does not take credit card information by phone. Instead, the cooperative uses an automated pay-by-phone system (844-843-6837, which is printed on billing statements). 
“We are thankful for members who have reported scam calls so we can let other members know,” said Cloverland’s Chief Financial Officer, Lisa Castilho, who oversees member services and billing. “Remember, ‘when in doubt, call member services to check it out.’”
Cloverland encourages members to enroll in the cooperative’s secure Auto Pay service as an additional safeguard to scammers. This free service ensures monthly payments are made automatically on the due date, eliminating risk for non-payment and disconnect status. Members can also use the free SmartHub mobile app to check energy usage and report power outages. Members should contact Cloverland’s member services team to enroll.
Cloverland urges members to never provide personal or financial information to a scam caller. If such calls are received, members should make a note of the number, details about the call and immediately hang up and report the incident. Phone scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission online at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and to Cloverland’s member services team at 800-562-4953. Cloverland Electric is not responsible for unauthorized payments made to scammers. If personal or financial information was provided to a scam caller, immediately contact your financial institution.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility located in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula. With over 4,000 miles of line and 43,000 meters, Cloverland serves 34,000 residential, commercial and industrial members in Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft and Delta counties.
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Contact:
Abby Bell, communications specialist
906-440-0609 / abell@cloverland.com