What do you say when a friend, family member or neighbor asks a question about a specific topic pertaining to FirstEnergy? Here is some information you may want to share if you’re asked about utility scams.

Scammers continue to target customers by pretending to be utility company employees. Their goal is to steal money or personal information by using a variety of deceptive tactics. Knowing the warning signs can help keep this information safe.

Don’t Be Fooled: Common Scams to Watch For

Utility scams are designed to be convincing. Knowing what to look for can help to spot a fake and stay in control:

• Urgent Payment Demands: Scammers may call or come to a home or business claiming service will be shut off immediately unless a payment is made.

• Unusual Payment Methods: Payment is requested through cryptocurrency or prepaid debit cards or gift cards.

• Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers can manipulate caller ID information, so it looks like the call is coming from a utility company.

• Door-to-Door Scams: Someone comes to a home or business posing as a utility worker and claiming they need to work on equipment or can offer lower rates.

• Fake Discounts: A customer may be told they are eligible for a discount and asked to provide personal or banking information.

• Phishing and Smishing: Fake emails or text messages may appear to be from a utility company, often including links or attachments that ask the customer to make a payment or claim a rebate.

How to Protect from Scams

Keep these tips and reminders in mind to avoid becoming a scam victim:

• We don’t shut off service without notice. Disconnections do not happen outside normal business hours or without advanced notice.

• We never ask for sensitive information. This includes bank account details and passwords.

• We don’t request unusual payments. We never accept prepaid debit cards, gift cards or cryptocurrency. Approved payment methods are listed at firstenergycorp.com/paymentoptions.

• Our workers carry identification and provide advance notice for visits. We do not contact customers or visit to offer special deals or request to see a copy of your bill.

• Avoid suspicious links or attachments. Visit our website directly to confirm information.

• Create a unique password for each of your online accounts. Do not reuse or share passwords.

• If unsure, contact us directly. Call us at the phone number on your bill or use our website to verify any visit or message.

Staying informed helps keep customers safe. If your friends and family want to learn more about known scams and get additional tips to protect themselves, direct them to the Scams and Fraud page on our website.