If scam artists would work half as hard at a real job as they do in their attempts to steal your hard-earned money, there would be fewer help wanted signs everywhere, the economy would be that much stronger, and we’d all have to watch our backs a whole lot less. It hasn’t taken the scammers long to tap into the trough already in the New Year, as Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) received multiple reports Monday of a scam targeting I&M customers once again.
Customers have reported receiving calls from people falsely identifying themselves as Indiana Michigan Power employees claiming the customers are late paying their bill and their power would be disconnected later in the day if they did not pay the bill immediately. Customers were instructed to call a different number to arrange payment.
Scammers sometimes seek personal credit card or banking information from customers; in other versions of this scam, customers have been directed to buy a debit card and provide the debit card number.
I&M employees NEVER call customers demanding immediate payment. Nor does I&M disconnect service without prior written warning.
Anyone receiving such calls should hang up and call I&M’s Customer Operations Center at 800-311-4634 to report the scam. Consumers should be aware that some scammers use technology to disguise their real phone number.
You can learn the status of your own bill at any time by calling the Customer Operations Center or by using I&M’s new mobile application, available for download from iTunes for Apple devices or Google for Android devices. Then, you’ll know in an instant whether your account is legitimately in arrears or that you are, in fact, in good standing. Don’t fall for these schemes and be certain to alert elder relatives who may be fearful that they are in trouble because of these bogus attempts to steal their money.
