Evergy is proud to join United Utilities Against Scams to recognize today as Utility Scam Awareness Day, Wednesday, November 20.

Scammers are becoming more deceptive thanks to technology. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports scammers used phone, in-person, and online tactics to cheat customers out of more than $10 billion nationwide last year. That’s a $2 billion increase over the previous year. The FTC reports that email scams were the biggest contact method for scammers, especially when they pretended to be a business or government agency.

Recently, Evergy customers were targeted through scammers posing as Evergy employees claiming the company would offer discounts for immediate payments, as well as another scam where callers also posed as Evergy employees falsely claiming the utility was returning $200 to senior citizens through the Evergy’s Kansas Cares Fund.

Scammers also use fake websites, fake phone numbers, fake QR codes and more to steal money.

Evergy is urging customers to stay vigilant, know the signs of commonly attempted scams and ways to protect themselves:

• Fake Websites – Watch for fraudulent websites that look like Evergy’s.  Always ensure you are paying your directly bill through the Evergy website at evergy.com.
• Fake Caller ID Displays – Never give out personal/financial information over the phone if you’re unsure who you are speaking to. You can verify account information online or by calling the Evergy Customer Contact Center (in the Evergy Metro and Evergy Missouri West area at 1-888-471-5275 and in Evergy Kansas Central at 1-800-383-1183).
• Disconnection Threats – Beware of threats of disconnecting utility service if you don’t provide immediate payment. Scammers will often claim Evergy will disconnect within an hour. Evergy will not shut off service without multiple notifications prior to disconnection.
• Gift cards and third-party payment apps – Evergy will never call or send someone to a residence or business asking customers to pay via third-party payment apps like Cash App, Venmo or Zelle, nor will Evergy ask customers to pay with gift cards.
• In-person impersonators – Verify the person is with Evergy by asking to see company identification or by calling the  before giving out any personal information (credit card, debit card, Social Security, Evergy account number, checking or savings account numbers). Evergy workers will also be wearing Evergy-branded clothing and driving a clearly labeled company vehicle.

If you have encountered suspicious activity or an attempted scam, call Evergy or report the scam immediately at www.evergy.com/reportscam. Suspicious activity should also be reported to local law enforcement. More information about scams, including reporting fraudulent calls, can be found here.

On behalf of Reins of Hope Therapeutic Riding Program, we would like to thank you for your support of our program for the last 30 years! Yes, along with our Annual Jingle and Mingle Open House and Fund Raiser, we are celebrating our 30 Year Anniversary serving our community!  Please plan to join us!

December 14, 2024

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Open House and Silent Auction

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Catered BBQ Meal with drinks and dessert included (free will donations accepted)

Pictures with our “horse therapists” available.

Location: Reins of Hope, Roy Coffee Arena, 2116 N. Obee Road, Hutchinson, KS

Reins of Hope is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), certified therapeutic horseback riding program, that works to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Founded in 1994, we serve individuals with physical, mental, and emotional challenges of all ages.

For 30 years, God has blessed our program and we have never turned a participant away due to inability to pay. In fact, with the generous support of the community, we have never raised our rates. We charge just $5.00 for a 30-minute session – the same as the day we started. We believe that access to this life-giving therapy should be available to all who need it.

We appreciate past the support our community and supporters have given us.  Thanks to you, we have been able to provide our students with professional, safe and targeted services to meet the individual needs of our learners.

We welcome your silent auction items, and monetary donations.  If you are unable to attend, please mail your donation to:

Reins of Hope, PO Box 57, Hutchinson, KS 67504-0057

Please call the center, (620) 665-0906 if you have questions or wish to donate items to the auction.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . for holiday scams! In 2024, as digital technology becomes more integrated into daily life, new and evolving scams pose significant threats to consumers. Here are some prominent scams likely to be at the forefront this holiday season.

Phishing and Smishing Attacks
Phishing, where attackers impersonate legitimate organizations to obtain sensitive information, remains a top threat.  Smishing, or phishing via SMS/text messaging, is particularly fertile for scams as more consumers rely on their smartphones for online shopping and financial transactions.

Example scenario: A consumer receives a text message purportedly from their bank or a popular retailer, warning them of a suspicious transaction and prompting them to click a link to “secure” their account. Clicking this link can lead to a fraudulent site designed to steal login credentials or prompt the nstallation of malware.

Recommendations:
 Always verify the sender’s authenticity by directly contacting the institution or retailer using verified phone numbers or websites.
 Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or texts, even if they seem urgent.
Fake E-commerce Sites and Social Media Ads. In 2024, scammers are leveraging social media ads to attract consumers to well-designed but fraudulent websites that offer deals too good to be true.

Example scenario: A shopper finds an ad on social media for luxury or popular goods at an unbelievable discount. Clicking the ad takes them to a website that looks legitimate but is a scam. Payment may result in fraudulent distribution of credit card details and other sensitive personal data and loss of funds, plus often the product never arrives.

Recommendations:

 Research online retailers thoroughly, checking reviews and verifying the website’s URL for signs of authenticity (e.g., HTTPS and legitimate domain names).

 Utilize https://www.TrustPilot.com to verify legitimate online retailers.

 Use secure payment methods, like credit cards, or services that offer fraud protection.
Charity Scams Scammers often take advantage of the season’s charitable spirit. In 2024, fraudulent email campaigns mimic well-known charity organizations with slight name changes.

Example scenario: Consumers receive emails or social media messages asking for donations to disaster relief funds or community initiatives. These messages may link to cloned websites where donations go straight to scammers.

Recommendations:
 Always donate through well-known, established charity websites or platforms and verify the legitimacy of new charities through services like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.
 Be cautious of unsolicited requests for donations and verify their authenticity before
contributing.

Package Delivery Scams
With the increase in online shopping, fraudulent package delivery notifications are rampant. In 2024, fraudulent delivery notices, sent via email or SMS/text message, prompt users to click a link to reschedule a delivery or pay a delivery fee.

Example scenario: A consumer receives a message stating that a package could not be delivered and must click a link to reschedule. The link leads to a page that asks for personal details or payment, leading to identity theft or financial loss.

Recommendations:

 Contact the delivery service directly through their official website or customer service to verify any delivery issues.
 Avoid clicking on links from unknown senders claiming to be delivery services.

Gift Card Scams

Gift cards are popular holiday gifts, but they are also frequently used by scammers to impersonate tech support agents, government officials, or even friends and family members, demanding payment in the form of gift cards.

Example scenario: A scammer poses as a representative from the Internal Revenue Service or a utility company, threatening immediate legal action unless payment is made through gift cards. Once the victim provides the card information, the funds are quickly depleted.

Recommendations:
 Be skeptical of anyone requesting gift card payments, as legitimate companies or agencies never
accept them as a form of payment.
 Report any suspicious calls or messages to local authorities or consumer protection agencies such as https://wwwreportfraud.ftc.gov.

Travel Scams

The holiday season also brings an increase in travel, which scammers exploit with fake travel deals, bogus accommodation listings and fraudulent ticket sales.  Scammers use cloned websites of reputable travel agencies and online booking platforms to defraud travelers.

Example scenario: A traveler books a holiday rental from a site that looks identical to a trusted platform but is, in fact, a scam. After making a payment, they discover that the rental does not exist or is not affiliated with the platform they thought they were using.

Recommendations:
 Use well-known booking sites and verify the website’s URL carefully before making any
payments.
 Be cautious of deals that are significantly cheaper than the market rate and ask for independent verification of listings.

Resource: Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists provided by Citizens Bank of Kansas.