PPL Electric Utilities joined with Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) to recognize National Consumer Protection Week from March 1 to 7 and the continuing efforts to educate customers on how they can guard against scams.
As a member of UUAS - a consortium of 146 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations - PPL helps to work across the industry with regulators, law enforcement, and telecommunications partners to stop scams targeting utility customers.
Scams and fraud can take a variety of forms, from imposters demanding immediate payment and threatening a service shutoff to an unscrupulous electricity generation supplier marketer making false claims to a customer. UUAS and its member companies continue to create awareness of common and new scam tactics and, to date, have helped to cease operations of more than 6,000 toll-free numbers used against utility customers by scammers.
When it comes to potential scam activity, customers should be aware of tactics used by scammers. They include, but are not limited to, threats to immediately disconnect, requests for payment with a prepaid card, spam emails with lookalike logos or trademarks, and spoofing the utility's phone number.
In addition, PPL wants customers to get the best price for their electricity supply and PPL supports shopping for that supply. If a customer chooses to shop, and about 40 percent of residential customers do, a good way to compare offers and prices is through the state Public Utility Commission's website at http://www.papowerswitch.com.
There are some things to keep in mind to avoid falling prey to a scammer. If a marketer calls or knocks at the door, customers should remember that PPL does not market or sell supplier services by phone or door to door. If the solicitor claims to represent PPL, customers should call PPL directly. Customers should not always trust caller ID. Scammers can make it look like PPL is calling. If a customer suspects the caller might not really be PPL, they should hang up and call PPL directly. Customers should only return messages and calls to PPL at its official phone number at 800-342-5775.
Customers should also update their PPL account with a security PIN or password and never give it to anyone who calls them. PPL will ask for a PIN and password when customers call them to make sure it is really the customer calling.
The Federal Trade Commission's website, http://www.ftc.gov, also provides additional information about protecting personal information and other information regarding impostor scams. Readers may also visit http://www.utilitiesunited.org for more information and tips on protecting themselves from impostor utility scams. For more information, readers may visit http://www.pplelectric.com.
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