Good advice is always worth repeating.

I’m talking about the fundamentals, of course.  Things like “Look both ways before crossing the street.” Or maybe “Take 20 seconds to wash your hands with soap.” And of course, the Princess Bride fans know to “Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.”

There’s something just about as basic that I want to repeat now. Namely, that your utility will never demand immediate payment over the phone.

One more time: Your utility will never demand immediate payment over the phone.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because we did an entire blog on utility scammers last year, amplifying a warning from the Colorado Public Utility Commission. But apparently the phony phone calls are going around again, claiming that residents owe a fantastic amount and need to pay RIGHT NOW to avoid being shut off. No surprise, really … scammers will always look for another opportunity to rip you off.

So once again, here are the basics to help protect yourself:

• If you didn’t originate the call, never give out personal information over the phone.
• If you think a caller might be legitimate – such as a crew coming over to do a repair – look up the phone number and call the vendor yourself to confirm.
• Don’t trust the number you see on Caller ID. Spammers can and will “spoof” real numbers to disguise where they’re calling from.
• If someone comes to the door unannounced, be wary – ask for a City-issued ID and call to confirm. (The phone numbers are below)
• You will only be getting an email bill if you signed up for one (like most NextLight customers, for instance). NEVER click on a link or open an attachment in an email unless you’ve verified the sender; it’s an easy way to insert malicious software or redirect you to a phony site to steal your personal information.

If you’re not sure whether a communication came from us, call LPC at 303-651-8386, NextLight at 303-774-4494 or Utility Billing at 303-651-8664. We’ll set the record straight.

Good advice to follow?

You can say that again.