Mar 7, 2024 | Safety and Security
Scammers continue to use sophisticated tactics to trick you into giving them money or your personal information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people lost a record $2.7 billion to imposter scams, including utility imposter scams, in 2023.
March 3-9 marks National Consumer Protection Week, and we want to equip customers with the information to help spot and hang up on bad actors.
Here are some signs of potential phone scam activity to look out for:
- Threat to disconnect: Scammers may call or show up at your door saying that your bill is past due and will threaten to disconnect service if a payment is not made immediately.
- Request for prepaid card: You may be asked to pay with a prepaid debit card or with funds through a mobile app.
- Suspicious Texts: Calls aren’t the only form of phone scams. Scammers will also send text messages requesting personal information.
Scammers act quickly to put pressure on unassuming victims. Always remember:
- Slow down. Take your time. As part of intimidation tactics, scammers may press you to act quickly. Stop, slow down and end the conversation. Reach out to us directly to confirm and details mentioned during the conversation or the status of your bill.
- Verify. Scammers can spoof phone numbers making the call look like it is from PPL Electric, trick you with emails or pose as real employees in person. The best way to verify a claim is to log on to your PPL Electric account or set one up so you can check your bill status directly.
- Stop before you act. PPL Electric and other utilities will never demand payment by prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies or other methods.
If you sense suspicious activity, call us at 1-800-342-5775 or contact the local authorities. Scam awareness information is also available at pplelectric.com/scams.
Remember that anyone can be targeted at any time. Together, we can raise awareness and stop scams.
Aug 4, 2022 | Safety and Security
Scammers often pick up their efforts during times of high inflation. They’ll tell you that if you switch and purchase your electricity supply from them, you’ll save tons of money. Sometimes, they aren’t being truthful. We want you to stay vigilant and know how to identify scammers, so you can stop them in their tracks.
Some of the deceptive and misleading tactics that energy marketing scammers use include:
- Misrepresenting themselves
- Misrepresenting supplier status
- Misrepresenting facts
- Misrepresenting pricing
- Misrepresenting their true intentions
We want to help keep you and your personal information safe. Here’s what you need to know:
- We DO NOT market or sell supplier services by phone or door-to-door.
- Don’t always trust your caller ID.
- Only return messages and calls from us at our official phone number: 1-800-342-5775.
- Create an online account.
- Update your account with a security PIN or password and NEVER give it to anyone who calls you.
- Keep your email address and phone number up to date.
Find out more details about how to protect yourself at pplelectric.com/scams.
Mar 29, 2022 | Safety and Security
It’s a tradition that has been around since the early 1700s and every year, as the calendar flips to April, many prepare elaborate jokes to play on one another. But just as your zany siblings or friends attempted to fool you growing up, there are many people in this world today who are looking to fool you out of your hard-earned money.
That’s why we’re urging you to stay vigilant and prevent utility scammers who use deceptive tactics to fool you into giving up your money or switching to a higher-cost electricity supplier. Remember, scammers never take a day off and they are always looking for the next opportunity to trick you, whether it’s April Fools’ Day or not.
If you receive a call or email asking about your electric bill or electricity supplier, it’s important to make sure you know the warning signs of a scam. Here are a few things to look out for:
- Don’t give into threats: “We’ll shut off your service if you don’t pay us immediately.” Scammers say this, we don’t. If you are at risk of losing service, we’ll notify you and won’t surprise you with a phone call threatening imminent shutoff. Plus, we have programs and payment agreements to help pay your bill until you can catch up.
- Pay attention to payment methods: We will never require you to pay with a gift card, prepaid card, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency.
- Watch out for spam: Today’s scammers will use lookalike logos or trademarks to fool you. So, when you open an email, be sure it’s coming from us before you click on anything.
- Don’t always trust caller ID: Scammers can make it look like a phone call is coming from our phone number. If you suspect the caller might not really be us, hang up immediately and verify your account information at pplelectric.com.
Sometimes, scammers knock on doors or could even confront you while in a public place. If a marketer stops you, remember the following tips:
- We’re not salespeople: We do not market or sell supplier services door-to-door. If a solicitor claims to represent PPL Electric, tell them you’re busy and can’t speak. Then contact us directly. Most importantly, don’t provide any personal information to them.
- Take your time: As part of intimidation tactics, scammers may press you to act quickly. Stop, slow down and end the conversation. Reach out to us directly to confirm any details mentioned during the conversation or the status of your bill.
- Ask for identification: All of our employees carry an ID badge and are required to show you their ID when asked. So, if they can’t produce a badge, shut the door.
Whether it’s an email, phone call or knock at the door, it never hurts to be mindful. Combine these general tips with those mentioned above to avoid scams:
- Update your PPL Electric account with a security PIN or password and never give it to anyone who calls you. That way, when you call us, we can ask for your PIN or password to make sure it’s really you and you’re authorized to talk about the account.
- Sign up for an online account at pplelectric.com to always have access to your information. You can sign up in three easy steps and view your bill status, electricity supplier information, overall usage and more.
- Remember, we deliver your power, but in Pennsylvania you can shop around for the electricity supplier that is right for you. Find helpful shopping tips and information you can use to get started at pplelectric.com/shopsmart.
The best way to prevent yourself from falling victim to a scam is to stay informed and be vigilant. And, if anything seems even slightly off about a situation, feel free to get in touch with us. For more information and tips about utility scams, visit pplelectric.com/scams.
Mar 10, 2022 | Safety and Security
We’re joining the Federal Trade Commission to recognize National Consumer Protection Week and the continuing efforts to educate customers on scams.
We’re helping to work across the industry with our fellow utility partners, regulators, and law enforcement to stop scams for good. The bottom line is we have your back.
National Consumer Protection Week is a chance to raise awareness on this important issue.
When it comes to potential scam activity, be aware of these tactics:
- Threats to immediately shut-off your service
- Requests for payment with a prepaid card or digital payment app
- Spam emails with lookalike logos or trademarks
- Caller ID displaying our phone number, but the caller sounds suspicious
If a marketer calls or knocks at your door, remember:
- We do not market or sell supplier services by phone or door-to-door. If the solicitor claims to represent PPL, check your online account or call us directly before providing any personal info.
- Don’t always trust caller ID. Scammers can make it look like PPL is calling. If you suspect the caller might not really be PPL, hang up.
- Update your PPL account with a security PIN or password and never give it to anyone who calls you. We will ask for your PIN and password when you call us to make sure it’s really you.
- And if you’re interested in shopping for an electricity supplier, you can find all the info you need on our secure website: pplelectric.com/shopsmart.
Let’s spread the word about scams so we can stop them for good!
Jun 8, 2021 | Safety and Security
What does a utility scam look like? We think these emojis will help you remember!
If you know what to watch for, you’ll never have to look worried, like this:
# # # # #
“Pay now or we’ll cut you off.”
Scammers say this; we don’t. If you are at any risk of losing service, we’ll give you plenty of notice. You won’t be surprised by a phone call threatening imminent shutoff.
# # # # #
“Go get a prepaid card.”
Scammers often insist that you have to pay with prepaid cards or digital payment apps, because it’s convenient for them. We don’t pressure you to use these types of payments.
# # # # #
“This is a fee to connect your meter.”
Scammers sometimes make this claim. Any meter-related costs you have to pay are included as part of your bill. There’s no extra fee to get a meter fixed, replaced or connected.
# # # # #
“But I said–” *click*
Don’t be scared, pressured or intimidated by scam phone calls. Just hang up. Call your local police if you feel threatened.
# # # # #
Want to make sure your account is not overdue?
For peace of mind, you may want to verify your account is in good standing after receiving a scam call. To do that, log on at pplelectric.com, to check your account status.
