COLUMBUS – Holiday season brings out a variety of scams, including several involving fraudulent utility fees and threats of disconnection.
Be Alert and Please Share: Protect yourself against scammers. Know the four common signs of an AEP Ohio imposter. pic.twitter.com/jKL5AyoY4D
— AEP Ohio (@AEPOhio) December 29, 2016
Officials at South Central Power say someone calling himself Shawn has been demanding immediate payment on customers’ accounts.
Or else.
“The caller told members payment could only be made via a pre-paid card and stated that electric service would be disconnected if immediate payment was not made,” said a release from the company. “Members were told to purchase the pre-paid card in a specific amount and call 855-208-5247 to make the payment.”
“South Central Power Company does not call to demand immediate payment via pre-paid cards, MoneyGram, Western Union, etc.,” said South Central’s Lisa Hooker, director of communications and government relations.
Hooker says members of the cooperative with questions about their bills should call South Central Power at 1-800-282-5064.
AEP Ohio (see above) says anyone demanding payment within a couple of hours, asking for personal account information, insisting on a specific form of payment, like a gift card, or providing an unfamiliar callback number is an imposter.