FORT WAYNE, Ind., Nov. 18, 2025 – Ahead of Utility Scam Awareness Day on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is sharing simple ways to spot and stop scams to keep you safe.
Criminals often attempt to pressure customers into paying "unpaid bills" to avoid disconnection. These scams affect both homes and businesses. As of November 2025, I&M has received more than 300 scam reports from customers.
"We understand how stressful and unsettling it can be to receive a call threatening to disconnect your power," said Katie Runkle, vice president of Customer Experience and External Affairs. "By knowing the signs of a scam, you can avoid unnecessary worry and keep your account and personal information secure While scams happen year-round, we often see an uptick during colder months and the holidays because scammers know customers depend on electricity to keep warm."
Here are five tips to help stop scammers:
- We’ll never disconnect your power without multiple warnings. Scammers will often say a customers’ utility bill is past due and service will be disconnected – usually within 30 minutes – if a payment isn’t made. I&M will provide multiple notices and offer to help customers with payment plan options before service interruptions.
- We’ll never ask for payments using pre-paid debit cards, gift cards or third-party mobile applications. Criminals may ask customers to make immediate payment through these alternative methods.
- Our employees never collect payments in person. Scammers may go door-to-door posing as an I&M employee demanding payment or offering a special deal. While I&M employees’ uniforms vary, often they will have the company logo visible, be in a vehicle with the company logo and carry a company identification card, which customers should request to see.
- We will never call or email asking a customer for personal or financial information. Criminals agree to mail checks for overpayments on an account if a customer confirms their personal information, including birthday, address and Social Security number.
- When in doubt, hang up and call I&M at 1-800-311-4634 to report a potential scam. Scammers are tricky and can use Caller ID spoofing software to try and convince customers the text or call is real.
Customers can check account information via the I&M mobile app or at www.IndianaMichiganPower.Com/account.
For more information about utility scams, visit www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/StopScams.
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La sede de Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) se encuentra en Fort Wayne, y sus, aproximadamente, 2,000 empleados prestan servicios a más de 600,000 clientes. Más del 85% de la energía eléctrica que proporcionó en 2024 fue libre de emisiones. I&M tiene a su disposición diversas fuentes de generación, lo que incluye 2,278 MW de generación de energía nuclear en Michigan, 450 MW de generación de energía eólica comprada de Indiana, más de 22 MW de generación de energía hidráulica en los dos estados y, aproximadamente, 35 MW de generación de energía solar a gran escala en los dos estados. The company's generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.
At American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system, and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. La familia de compañías de AEP incluye a AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (en Virginia y Virginia Occidental), AEP Appalachian Power (en Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma y Southwestern Electric Power Company (en Arkansas, Louisiana, este de Texas y la región del Mango de Texas). AEP también es propietaria de AEP Energy, que brinda soluciones energéticas competitivas e innovadoras en todo el país. Para obtener más información, visite aep.com