Appalachian Power (APCo) urges customers to be on high alert for utility-related scams with temperatures soaring across the region. Scammers often take advantage of extreme weather conditions to prey on vulnerable individuals, using high-pressure tactics to demand immediate payment, threaten disconnection or claim to partner with APCo to lower your bill through solar installation.
APCo reminds customers that it will never:
- Call and demand immediate payment using prepaid cards, gift cards or digital payment apps like CashApp, Zelle or Venmo (scammers often spoof caller ID to appear as if they are calling from APCo, adding to the deception).
- Visit a customer’s home or business to request payment to avoid service disconnection or attempt to sell products, such as solar panels. Anyone claiming to represent APCo in this way should be considered suspicious.
“We typically see a rise in scam activity during weather extremes because scammers know people are more anxious about losing power,” said Alan Bragg, director of customer service and business development. “They specifically target senior citizens, business owners during high-traffic times, non-native English speakers, and others who may be less likely to question suspicious calls.”
APCo encourages all customers to remember the following tips:
- Never give out personal or banking information to an unverified caller.
- Hang up and call APCo at the number on your bill to verify any suspicious contact.
- If someone comes to your door claiming to represent APCo, ask to see their official identification.
- Report scam attempts to your local police department and APCo.
“Customers who are unsure about the status of their account are encouraged to check through our website or free mobile app,” said George Porter, director of communications. “Additional scam prevention resources are also available online at AppalachianPower.com/StopScams.”
“Education and awareness are the best tools we have to fight back against these types of fraud,” Bragg added. “We ask our customers to stay cautious, and when in doubt, call us directly.”
About Appalachian Power
Appalachian Power has 1.1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is part of American Electric Power, which is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions. AEP’s approximately 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity.
