If you live in APS territory, you’ll want to take note of this:

From: Media Relations (MediaRelations)

Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 1:13 PM

Subject: CONSUMER ALERT: NEW SCAM TARGETING APS CUSTOMERS STATEWIDE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2016

Consumer Alert:

New Scam Targeting APS Customers STATEWIDE

90 incidents reported in last 10 days

PHOENIX – APS issued a warning today about a new scam where criminals

masquerading as APS employees are calling customers demanding immediate

payment of their electric bill under the threat of having their power turned

off. Potential victims are instructed to purchase prepaid cards in a

specific amount, and then call a special number to make the payment. In some

instances, the call back number goes to an automated phone system that acts

and sounds like the actual APS Customer Care Center.

While it is impossible to know how many customers have been targeted or have

fallen for the scam, APS security has received reports of more than 90

incidents across the state in the past 10 days. APS encourages customers who

have been targeted to report the incident to local law enforcement along

with APS at (602) 371-7171 or (800) 240-2014 (outside metro-Phoenix).

To keep customers from becoming a victim of consumer scams, APS provides the

following guidance<https://support.aps.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/175>:

*         APS never requires payment via a prepaid card.

*         The only valid phone numbers to call the APS Customer Care Center

are listed on customer bills and at aps.com<http://www.aps.com/>.

*         If there is ever a question about the validity of an email,

website or person claiming to be an APS representative, call the APS

Customer Care Center immediately at (602) 371-7171 to verify this

information.

*         Recognize the signs of a phishing email: mismatched fonts, missing

hyperlinks, improper grammar and misspellings.

*         Never share credit card information with an unverified source.

Customers who pay by credit card at aps.com<http://www.aps.com/> will be

directed to the KUBRA EZ-Pay website, which asks them to enter a “captcha”

validation code. A “captcha” typically uses a set of letters and numbers

that the user is required to manually retype and submit. Any other credit

card payment site is fraudulent and should not be used.

APS<http://www.aps.com/> serves about 2.7 million people in 11 of Arizona’s

15 counties, and is the Southwest’s foremost producer of clean, safe and

reliable electricity. Using a balanced energy mix that is nearly 50 percent

carbon-free, APS has one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy

portfolios, and owns and operates the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station,

the country’s top power producer and largest producer of carbon-free energy.

The company is also a proven leader in introducing technology and services

that offer customers choice and control over their energy consumption. With

headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West

Capital Corp.<http://www.pinnaclewest.com> (NYSE: PNW).

Media Contact:

Steven Gotfried

(602) 250-3040

Website:

You are not going to want to miss this month’s Get Your PHX event. I know many of you have been watching the FOUND:RE, downtown’s newly-opened boutique lifestyle hotel, being built over the last couple years, right along side the second phase of Portland on the Park.

The old hotel stood for years in disrepair and developer Tim Sprague has put together a concept that is perfect for the urban art core that we’ve been working toward for decades in Phoenix. Found:re makes art its core mission, from original art in every room to the way the beds, lights and room dividers are constructed.

Almost everything you see is locally-sourced and locally made. We are not going to publish pictures here of the rooms because you have to see these yourself to believe it.

We will get a tour of the rooms, a suite, the conference facilities, the new restaurant Match, the the pool-side lounge. Each of these features original art that is curated by Mike Oleskow, in constant rotation. You won’t see chintzy paintings of the ocean, still hanging around from the 1960s, passing as artwork. You will see original art from local artists, some of whom also work in the hotel. In fact, most of the art that you see on the walls is also for sale; either in original form or as prints that you can see hung in the guest rooms.

The hotel’s restaurant, MATCH Cuisine & Cocktails, offers Executive Chef Akos Szabos’ take on shareable plates with an international twist, and a creative, thoughtful bar program.

I had a chance to eat at Match during a soft opening a few weeks ago. The food was amazing and beautifully presented. We were told during our tour that Match is going to start hosting Sunday brunches, which I’m particularly excited about since I’ll be able to walk there from my home.

So, this month, you are going to get a very exclusive tour (yes, we are capping attendance at this event at 100 participants) of the hotel, the rooms and the facilities. You will hear from Tim Sprague personally about his vision and the road he traveled to make this a reality. You will get to meet the art curator, Mike Oleskow and you will get to taste samples of the restaurants new menu.

You can’t just drop in on this one. We need you to sign up through our Google spreadsheet because attendance is limited on this one!

Please sign up at this free ticket link.

What: Get Your PHX at the The FOUND:RE
When: November 17th at 5:30 to about 7:30
Where: 1100 N Central in Phoenix
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