Columbus, Ohio – Cybercriminals often rely on pressure to make people act before they have time to think. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Columbia Gas is helping customers recognize three behaviors that should immediately raise a red flag.
“A bad actor may sound convincing, but the pressure they create is often the warning sign,” said Renee Cook, Leader Customer Care and Compliance. “If someone rushes you, demands an unusual form of payment or tries to keep you from checking the request, stop the conversation. Contact us using the number on your bill or our official website before taking any action.”
Customers should watch for these three red flags:
- They create a sense of urgency. Cybercriminals may threaten immediate disconnection, claim an account is past due or insist that a problem must be fixed right away. Slow down and check your account using the company’s official app, website or phone number.
- They require an unusual form of payment. Be suspicious if someone insists on gift cards, cryptocurrency, a payment app or another unfamiliar method. Columbia Gas will not pressure a customer to pay in an unusual way.
- They discourage independent verification. A bad actor may tell you not to hang up, discourage you from checking your account or direct you to contact a number they provide. End the conversation and contact the company through a trusted channel.
Pause. Verify. Protect yourself. If a call, text, email or chat feels suspicious, do not share account, Social Security or banking information. Disconnect and contact Columbia Gas of Ohio at 1-800-344-4077.
Additional steps customers can take
Columbia Gas recommends these practices when customers access their accounts or interact through the company’s website, mobile app, phone line or chat:
- Use strong, unique passwords. Do not reuse passwords across websites. Consider using a password manager to create and store unique credentials.
- Confirm you are on the correct website. Check the web address carefully and look for the lock icon to the left of the address, which indicates that information exchanged with the site is encrypted.
- Use caution with unsolicited messages. Do not click a link in an unexpected email or text. Review the destination before selecting a link when possible, and avoid it if anything appears suspicious.
- Keep software current. Install current browser, operating system and mobile app updates to receive the latest security protections.
- Know what company representatives will not request. Columbia Gas representatives will not ask for a password by phone or live chat, or request a credit card number through live chat. If a request seems suspicious, end the interaction and call the number shown on the company’s official website or your bill.
- Protect sensitive information. Do not provide an account number, Social Security number or banking information to an unverified source. Columbia Gas asks for a Social Security number only when establishing new service or verifying a customer’s identity.
- Verify account status directly. If someone claims an account is past due, confirm the balance by signing in to the official Columbia Gas of Ohio account or contacting Customer Care at 1-800-344-4077, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
Visit https://www.columbiagasohio.com/safety/home-safety/impostors-and-scams for more information about recognizing and reporting utility scams.
About Columbia Gas of Ohio
Columbia Gas of Ohio delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 1.5 million customers across the state. With headquarters in Columbus, it is the largest natural gas utility in Ohio. Columbia Gas of Ohio is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers, and guided by our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner. More information about Columbia Gas of Ohio and NiSource, including its goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2040, is available at www.ColumbiaGasOhio.com and www.NiSource.com.
