Instead, they use cold weather concerns as a way to create urgency, hoping people will act quickly without verifying the source. These scams tend to spike during severe weather events, when people are already worried about power outages, frozen pipes, and heating costs. What the Messages Look LikeResidents report receiving text messages claiming to be alerts about weather-related issues, missed deliveries, utility interruptions, or account problems caused by extreme cold. Why Cold Weather Creates Opportunity for ScammersScammers frequently tie their messages to real events already happening in the community. During an arctic blast, people expect emergency alerts and service notifications, which lowers suspicion.