Utility consumers nationwide are being targeted in a marketing scam aimed at stealing their identities, United Cooperative Services CEO Ray Beavers said. Thousands of unsuspecting consumers have been victimized by scammers who tricked them into releasing their social security numbers and/or bank routing numbers, he said. The scammers claim that President Obama will pay their utility bills through a new federal program, Beavers said.
 “These crooks have no moral compass when it comes to bilking money from innocent consumers,” Beavers said. “They’re using a variety of methods to contact consumers from coast to coast, including telephone, e-mail, text messaging, social media and even face-to-face encounters. Do not release your personal information to these people."
 The scam works like this. Someone contacts a consumer, stating that President Obama’s new program will provide credits or payments for utility bills. These scammers then state that in order to receive the funds, the consumer must provide their social security and bank routing numbers. The victims are then provided a phony “Federal Reserve” account number to use to pay their bills online. The scammers claim that if consumers use this routing number and insert their social security number as the bank account number, their bill will be paid. This is a complete falsehood as there is no such federal program.
 “United is extremely vigilant in protecting its members’ private account information and urges anyone who is contacted by a questionable entity or person to contact us before releasing their personal information,” said Beavers.
 Consumers contacted by these scammers also should immediately report it to the Texas Attorney General’s office at 800-621-0508.