Scammers continue to use sophisticated tactics to trick you into giving them money or your personal information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people lost a record $2.7 billion to imposter scams, including utility imposter scams, in 2023.  

March 3-9 marks National Consumer Protection Week, and we want to equip customers with the information to help spot and hang up on bad actors. 

Here are some signs of potential phone scam activity to look out for: 

• Threat to disconnect: Scammers may call or show up at your door saying that your bill is past due and will threaten to disconnect service if a payment is not made immediately. 
• Request for prepaid card: You may be asked to pay with a prepaid debit card or with funds through a mobile app. 
• Suspicious Texts: Calls aren’t the only form of phone scams. Scammers will also send text messages requesting personal information. 

Scammers act quickly to put pressure on unassuming victims. Always remember:

• Slow down. Take your time. As part of intimidation tactics, scammers may press you to act quickly. Stop, slow down and end the conversation. Reach out to us directly to confirm and details mentioned during the conversation or the status of your bill. 
• Verify. Scammers can spoof phone numbers making the call look like it is from PPL Electric, trick you with emails or pose as real employees in person. The best way to verify a claim is to log on to your PPL Electric account or set one up so you can check your bill status directly. 
• Stop before you act. PPL Electric and other utilities will never demand payment by prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies or other methods. 

If you sense suspicious activity, call us at 1-800-342-5775 or contact the local authorities. Scam awareness information is also available at pplelectric.com/scams.  

Remember that anyone can be targeted at any time. Together, we can raise awareness and stop scams.