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The free tool below runs entirely in this browser — no account, nothing stored or transmitted. Redact anything you would not want kept before you type it.
Open the companion tool →Why utility shutoff calls are always fake when demanding instant card payment
Regulated utility companies send multiple written notices by mail before any disconnection and offer formal payment plans.
No real utility accepts gift cards, Zelle, Bitcoin, or prepaid MoneyPak cards for bill settlement.
The protocol
- Place a printed card next to the phone stating: 'Utilities never disconnect without mail notice. Hang up and call the bill number.'
- Set up third-party notification on utility accounts so caregivers receive copies of past-due notices.
- If a caller demands money, hang up immediately.
- Check account status by calling the phone number printed on a past paper bill.
What the tool does
Build a utility scam defense card for an older relative. Runs in browser.
Limit first: This is a caregiver protection planning tool. It is not a utility billing portal.
Open the companion tool →One human next step
Contact your local electric and gas utilities to add a designated secondary contact for account billing notifications.
Research log and safety checks
AI-assist path: defense plan generator. §6.10: not a frontier-pace topic.
§0.5 protection result: category is elder-protection; crisis-adjacent: no; fear/urgency/scarcity toolkit used: no. The protective function is free and the paid feature is convenience only.