Ahead of Utility Scam Awareness Day Wednesay, American Electric Power (AEP) is warning their customers that scammers are more common around the holidays.

What You Need To Know

  • Wednesay is Utility Scam Awareness Day    

  • American Electric Power (AEP) says scams are more common around the holidays

  • They say 90% of calls this year asked victims for a payment immediately, threatening to have their service disconnected

In a press release from AEP, they state that more than 90% of reported scams this year involved calls customers received in which they were told they needed to make a payment immediately or have their service disconnected.

“Scammers want access to your personal information, so guard it carefully. AEP Ohio will never call, text, email or come to a customer’s home asking for personal or financial information,” said Lisa Kelso, vice president of customer experience, in the release. “Our field employees would never ask you to pay them directly or with a prepaid debit card. And we do not send automated phone calls about your account status.”

AEP offers the following tips to avoid being scammed:

  • If you receive a call and are told your power is going to be shut off, check your account online
  • Only make payments through Billmatrix or at authorized pay stations
  • Show caution when receiving calls with AEP Ohio as the caller ID or if you receive a recording sounding like it’s from AEP Ohio
  • Be mindful that scammers may call impersonating someone from AEP Ohio
  • Do not call numbers provided by callers you deem suspiscious

AEP Ohio asks customers call them immediately if they suspect they were contacted by a scammer.

“If you’re ever in doubt about the identity of an employee or the work they’re doing near your home, call us at 800-672-2231,” the release reads. “We’ll be able to verify any information for you, as well as whether AEP Ohio has contacted you about your bill.”