MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mon Power is warning customers about a telephone scam recently reported to them. Spokesman Will Boye said scammers are telling customers they have a past-due balance and their electricity will be shut off if they do not make an immediate payment.
Boye said it is not, and it has never been their policy to demand immediate payment from customers to avoid a service disruption.
“Number 1 is that our representatives will not call or email to demand immediate payment to avoid an immediate shutoff,” Woye said. “We would never do that.”
Boye cautions customers that some of the scammers can appear to be authentic, and it is very important to be careful. It is appropriate for a customer to ask for the identification of the caller, a step that could also turn some scammers away.
“They use spoofing software to misrepresent the source of a call, and they want to mislead and confuse these customers,” Boye said. “The call-back numbers they provide often use greeting and hold messages that mimic legitimate businesses like ours.”
There are established payment options online, over the phone, and payment plan options for customers who are behind. But Boye is adamant that a First Energy or Mon Power employee will never demand payment in exchange for keeping your service on.
“They would never demand immediate payment to avoid a shutoff, and they would always explain how payment can be made using the established payment options,” Boye said.
Boye said if you do get a call you aren’t sure of, don’t hesitate to let the person know you plan to terminate the call, hang up, and call Mon Power on your bill for more information.
“If you think you’re on the phone with a scammer, hang up and call the Mon Power number on your bill to confirm what is going on, and we’ll be able to help you.”