09/19/2026
DON'T GET SCAMMED BY EMPLOYEES OF LEGITIMATE COMPANIES!
Through a Florida Bar program, I have volunteered to speak to organizations about scams and how to protect against them. In that role, I have encountered several cases in which elderly people were targeted by individuals who are actual employees of legitimate companies.
In one case, an elderly couple was visited at their home by a man who presented a business card identifying himself as an employee of their service provider. They allowed him into their home. He went behind their desk, unplugged their internet equipment, and left. The couple was suddenly without telephone, computer, and television service.
The couple came to my home for help. I called the telephone number on the business card and reached the same man who had been at their house. He told me something like - I don't remeber the exact quote, “I’m going out for lunch. I’ll call you on my cell phone when I get to the restaurant.”
He did exactly that.
When he called from his personal cell phone, he told me that the couple’s service had been disconnected because they owed the company money. He then offered to take care of the problem immediately if I would give him the couple’s credit card information.
I hung up.
I then contacted the company he claimed to work for. The response was dismissive and filled with excuses. I subsequently went to the couple’s home myself and discovered that their service had not been disconnected by the company at all—the man had physically unplugged their equipment.
Since then, I have encountered two additional situations involving similar conduct.
These experiences have taught me two very important lessons:
First, be extremely careful about whom you allow into your home. If someone arrives claiming to represent a utility, internet provider, cable company, repair service, or other business, verify their identity and credentials independently before allowing them inside. Do not rely solely on a business card or identification they provide.
Second, never give your credit card or other financial information to a service representative who calls you unexpectedly. Independently contact the company using a telephone number from your bill, official website, or another trusted source, and verify the representative’s identity and the reason for the requested payment.
Scammers are not so aggressive that they secure employment with legitimate companies as a means to operate. They use convincing identification, and a sense of urgency to gain your trust. Take the time to verify before you open your door or provide financial information. Unfortunately in todays world scammers have become very aggressive.
