Electric Scammers Still Trying to Steal From You

AEP Texas reminds area electricity users that scam artists posing as electric company personnel are continuing to call consumers telling them they are behind on their electric bill and threatening to disconnect their electric service unless immediate payment is made.  Reports of such scam calls began appearing earlier this month within the AEP Texas service territory, as well as the service territories of other utilities.

For example, a business in San Angelo received a call earlier this month from someone claiming to be from AEP Texas and indicating that a service technician was on the way to disconnect service due for nonpayment.   As requested by the caller, the business owner went to a local grocery store and purchased two prepaid cash cards to equal the $800 amount owed.  She then called a number supplied by the caller and supplied the serial numbers on the back of prepaid cards.  The voice answering the phone indicated that she had reached the AEP Texas disconnection phone number.  This number is a fraud.  Consumers should call the phone number of their REP as shown on their monthly electric bill. 

Electricity users are reminded:

• Consumers who are unsure if the caller is with their REP should hang up and call the number on the monthly bill they receive from their REP. This is the number that consumers should call - not a number given by someone over the phone.

• AEP Texas is an energy delivery company and does not call consumers asking for payment over the phone and/or threatening disconnection unless immediate payment is made.  AEP Texas disconnects electric service for nonpayment under instructions from the customer’s REP.  AEP Texas will not ask for bank information or credit/debit card numbers over the phone.

• Consumers who are behind on their bills receive written notices from their REP of a possible disconnection and how to prevent it.