FirstEnergy is warning customers to be alert as utility scams continue to rise, with fraudsters posing as company employees to steal money and personal information.
The company said scammers are using a variety of tactics to pressure customers into making payments or sharing sensitive data.
Common schemes include urgent demands for payment with threats of immediate service shutoff, requests for payment through unusual methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency, and caller ID spoofing to make calls appear legitimate.
Officials also warned of door-to-door scams, in which individuals pose as utility workers, as well as fraudulent offers of discounts that require customers to provide personal or banking information. Phishing emails and text messages may also attempt to trick customers into clicking malicious links or submitting payment.
FirstEnergy emphasized that it does not disconnect service without advance notice and does not request payment through prepaid cards, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
The company also said its employees carry identification and provide advance notice for service visits, and will not request to see a copy of a customer’s bill or offer special deals at the door.
Customers are encouraged to avoid clicking on suspicious links, use unique passwords for online accounts and contact the company directly using the phone number on their bill if they are unsure about a communication.
Officials said staying informed is key to avoiding scams and urged customers to visit FirstEnergy’s website for more information on fraud prevention.
