JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA is warning customers about a circulating scam targeting people who lost groceries during storm-related power outages — and sharing practical steps to help protect food before and during an outage.
Grocery reimbursement scam targets storm victims
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Scammers are sending fake messages promising reimbursements of up to $50 for groceries lost during storm outages, according to JEA. The messages urge recipients to click a link to claim their money.
JEA is reminding customers that it does not reimburse food lost during weather-related power outages. Any message claiming otherwise is a scam.
To protect themselves, customers should never click on suspicious links and never share personal or payment information with unknown contacts. When in doubt, JEA advises customers to verify their account status through its official website or the My JEA app at jea.com/scams.
How to protect food during a power outage
Planning ahead can make all the difference when a storm knocks out power. JEA recommends four key steps to help keep food safe.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed. A closed refrigerator can keep food safe for up to four hours. A closed freezer can extend that window to up to 48 hours.
Freeze perishables ahead of time. If a storm is in the forecast, consider freezing items like milk, fresh meat, poultry and leftovers before the power goes out.
Transfer items to a cooler. If the power is expected to be out for more than four hours, refrigerated meats, dairy and leftovers should be moved to an insulated cooler packed with ice or frozen gel packs.
Keep the freezer full. Empty spaces in a freezer reduce its ability to stay cold. Before a storm, filling those gaps with bags of ice or plastic containers filled with water can help extend safe food storage.