As the holiday season approaches, PECO offers tips to help residents identify scammers attempting to steal money and personal information. While scams do occur throughout the year, fraudulent activity and scam attempts generally increase during the holiday season. PECO encourages customers to be extra cautious this time of year as scams targeting utility customers have become increasingly sophisticated due to advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies.
One of the most common tactics involves a scammer calling a customer and demanding an immediate payment via prepaid debit or credit card to avoid service disconnection. These impostors often pose as utility company employees, instructing the customer to purchase a prepaid card from a nearby convenience store, or pharmacy, then call back to complete the «payment.» This approach can feel surprisingly authentic, as scammers can manipulate caller IDs and even replicate utility companies’ official voice greetings and hold recordings.
Tips to identify scams:
PECO will never:
- Ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card or cryptocurrency.
- Request a PECO account number or personal information like a social security number, driver’s license number or bank statement.
- Visit homes or businesses to discuss service disconnection without prior contact.
Identifying PECO employees:
- All field employees wear a uniform with the PECO logo, including a shirt and safety vest.
- Employees display a company ID badge with the PECO logo and their name.
Tips for businesses:
- Review emails from outside networks carefully.
- Verify the sender’s name and business match the email address. Look for typos or slight image alterations.
Generative AI also represents a growing threat and allows scammers to create highly realistic, human-like content using online data. This technology makes scams appear more credible, which is why it’s crucial for customers to stay cautious and always verify any unexpected or suspicious communication. Customers should be on the lookout for:
- Deep Fakes – Digitally manipulated images or videos that mimic real people.
- Voice Cloning – Impersonates individuals to carry out scams.
- Phishing and Malware – AI written phishing emails, texts and malware.
If a customer ever questions the legitimacy of a call or visit to their home, they should contact PECO at 800-494-4000. Any customer who believes they have been a target of a scam is urged to contact their local police and call PECO immediately to report the situation.
To learn more about preventing scams, visit peco.com/Scams.