SOUTH BEND, Ind., - Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) reminds customers to be alert for scams ahead of Utility Scam Awareness Day, which is tomorrow, Nov. 15. I&M and our parent company American Electric Power (AEP), is joining Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), along with hundreds of electric, water and natural gas companies to raise awareness of common utility scams.
"With the holidays approaching, this is a high-risk time for many of our customers to be targeted by scammers," said Katie Davis, vice president of External Affairs and Customer Experience. "We want to remind customers to be alert and how to recognize scams to avoid falling victim to fraud."
Since the start of 2023, I&M has received more than 150 reports of scam attempts targeting our customers. Often times, scammers will call or text customers with Caller ID showing the utility company's name.
Here are the four most common utility scams:
- Personal information. Criminals agree to mail checks for overpayments on an account if they confirm their personal data, including birthdays, addresses and Social Security numbers.
- Threat to disconnect. Scammers will call saying a customer’s utility bill is past due and service will be disconnected – usually within 30 minutes – if a payment is not made. I&M will provide multiple notices and help customers with payment plan options before service interruptions.
- Mobile Banking or Gift Card Payments. A scam artist says you need to make immediate payment through a mobile banking app. I&M will never ask for payments using a pre-paid debit card, gift card or third-party mobile applications.
- New meter refund. Criminals have started telling homeowners they need to pay for a new meter and make the payment before the meter is installed.
"Our top tip is to end the call and then call I&M to report the scam attempt," Davis said. "Scammers have sophisticated tactics and by ending the call you end their scam. If you are unsure if it's a scam or want to confirm the status of your account, you can call the number found on your bill or on our website to be connected to a customer service specialist."
In-person scammers may try to fool customers in the same way as over the phone with threats of shutting off service and demanding immediate payment. Never let someone into your home unless you verify their identity or have a scheduled appointment. I&M employees' uniforms vary, but often times they will have the company logo visible, be in a vehicle with the company logo and carry a company identification card, which you should request to see.
If you receive a call that sounds like a scam or have a visit from someone claiming to be with I&M, please call the police and report the incident to us by calling 1-800-311-4634.
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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 80% de la energía eléctrica que proporcionó en 2022 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.
American Electric Power, con sede en Columbus, Ohio, está potenciando un futuro energético más limpio y brillante para sus clientes y comunidades. AEP tiene, aproximadamente, 17,000 empleados que operan y mantienen el sistema de transmisión de electricidad más grande del país y más de 225,000 millas de líneas de distribución para brindar energía eléctrica confiable y asequible en forma segura a 5.6 millones de clientes regularizados en 11 estados. AEP también es uno de los productores de electricidad más grandes del país, con aproximadamente 30,000 megavatios de capacidad de generación diversa, que incluye más de 7,000 megavatios de energía renovable. Los planes de la compañía incluyen aumentar su cartera de generación de energía renovable a, aproximadamente, el 50% de la capacidad total, a más tardar, en 2032. AEP está encaminada para lograr una reducción de las emisiones de dióxido de carbono del 80% respecto de los niveles de 2005, a más tardar, en 2030 y tiene el compromiso de alcanzar las cero emisiones netas para 2045. AEP recibe reconocimientos de manera constante por su enfoque en la sustentabilidad, la participación comunitaria y la diversidad, igualdad e inclusión. 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.
CONTACTO CON LOS MEDIOS:
Schneè Doyle
Communications Consult Sr.
Celular: 574-218-5987
smdoyle@aep.com