Is Helping Hands Legit? Utility Assistance Review
Updated: January 2026
Helping Hands is a data harvesting operation disguised as utility assistance.
It looks legit on the surface (.com vs .org red flag) but doesn't actually help with utilities. Instead: (1) Collects personal information during application, (2) Immediately sells your data to telemarketers (within minutes - multiple international accent callers), (3) Sends spam texts every 90 seconds with fake 'case manager' updates, (4) Directs you to sketchy third-party sites (government grants, debt consolidation, auto insurance schemes), (5) Some users report being enrolled in college courses they didn't authorize. Zero actual utility assistance. Do not apply.
Key Findings
What It Is
Website claims to offer utility assistance
Main Risk
.com domain instead of .org (red flag for fake nonprofit)
Best Action
Use a Google Voice number for signup (NOT your real number)
The Pattern
- →Website claims to offer utility assistance
- →Uses .com domain (not legitimate nonprofit .org)
- →Application looks detailed and legitimate
- →Collects full personal information on signup
- →Promises to help with electric, water, gas bills
- →No actual financial assistance provided
- →Sells contact info to telemarketers immediately
- →Redirects to third-party services (government grants, debt relief)
- →Mentions 'case manager' (doesn't actually exist)
Red Flags
- Warning: .com domain instead of .org (red flag for fake nonprofit)
- Warning: Phone calls within minutes of applying (multiple accents: Indian, English, Asian)
- Warning: Text messages every 90 seconds with spam offers
- Warning: Reference numbers that 'expire in 30 minutes' (pressure tactic)
- Warning: Directs you to government grant scams
- Warning: Directs you to debt consolidation scams
- Warning: Directs you to auto insurance 'discount' scams
- Warning: Reports of unwanted college enrollment
- Warning: Reports of being directed to unrelated services
- Warning: No actual utility bill assistance available
- Warning: Targets vulnerable people (elderly, disabled, poor)
- Warning: No refund options (sells your data, not reversible)
What To Do
- 1Use a Google Voice number for signup (NOT your real number)
- 2Use a separate email address for signup
- 3Do NOT provide personal information (SSN, financial details)
- 4Do NOT authorize any third-party services
- 5Report spam calls to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- 6Block all calls and texts immediately after applying
- 7For real utility help: contact your state/local utility assistance programs directly
- 8Use LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) - government program
- 9Contact utility company directly about hardship programs
- 10Call 211 (United Way) for verified local assistance
- 11Use local community action agencies (verified helpers)
What NOT To Do
- ✕Don't use your real phone number
- ✕Don't use your real email
- ✕Don't provide SSN or financial info
- ✕Don't click links in spam texts
- ✕Don't authorize 'case managers'
- ✕Don't answer calls from unknown international numbers
- ✕Don't believe the 30-minute reference number deadline
- ✕Don't enroll in any third-party services they mention
- ✕Don't pay any fees (legitimate assistance is free)
- ✕Don't believe .com sites claiming to be nonprofits
Copy-Paste Script
Applied to Helping Hands. Immediately received spam calls/texts. No actual assistance provided. This is a data harvesting operation. Report to FTC and block all contact.
FAQ
Is Helping Hands a scam?
It's not a traditional scam (you're not directly charged money) but it IS a data harvesting operation. They collect your information under false pretenses of helping with utilities, then sell your data to telemarketers. No actual utility assistance is provided. Avoid completely.
What happens if I apply to Helping Hands?
Within minutes: (1) Multiple phone calls from international numbers, (2) Text messages every 90 seconds, (3) Spam related to government grants, debt relief, auto insurance. Your data is sold to spam operations. You get no utility assistance. The spam continues for weeks.
Why are they calling me with different accents?
Helping Hands sells your phone number to telemarketing companies. Those companies source callers internationally. The multiple different accents (Indian, English, Asian) are from different telemarketing firms all calling from the same sold contact list.
How do I get real utility assistance?
Contact these legitimate programs: (1) LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) - Google your state + LIHEAP, (2) Call 211 (United Way) - free referral to local assistance, (3) Contact your utility company directly - most have hardship programs. Never use Helping Hands or similar spam operations.
Should I apply to Helping Hands?
Absolutely not. Use legitimate assistance programs instead. Call 211, contact your state's LIHEAP program, or call your utility company directly. Helping Hands will only result in weeks of spam calls/texts. Your data will be sold to telemarketers. Zero actual assistance.
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