FirstEnergy warned customers on Apr. 30 about an increase in utility scams, urging the public to recognize common fraudulent tactics and take steps to protect themselves.
The warning comes as scammers continue to target individuals by posing as utility company employees, attempting to steal money or personal information through deceptive means. FirstEnergy highlighted that these scams often involve urgent payment demands, requests for unusual payment methods such as cryptocurrency or gift cards, caller ID spoofing, door-to-door impersonations of workers, fake discounts requiring sensitive data, and phishing attempts via email or text.
To help prevent fraud, FirstEnergy said it does not disconnect service without prior notice during normal business hours and never asks for sensitive information like bank details or passwords. The company also emphasized that it does not accept prepaid debit cards, gift cards or cryptocurrency for payments; approved methods are listed on its official website. Customers are encouraged to verify any suspicious contact by calling the number found on their bill or the company’s website.
FirstEnergy provides electricity service to more than 6 million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York according to the official website. The company manages around 24,000 miles of transmission lines and over 269,000 miles of distribution lines as detailed on its official site.
According to the company’s corporate responsibility page, FirstEnergy is committed to positively impacting stakeholders through environmental efforts and community initiatives. It has been recognized as a compliance leader with awards for environmental practices and support of military-friendly policies.
FirstEnergy aims to operate as a progressive electric utility focused on integrity and reliability with a diverse workforce dedicated to improving customer experiences and strengthening communities according to its official website.
The company encourages customers who suspect they have been targeted by a scammer or who want more information about known scams and protective measures to visit its Scams and Fraud webpage.
