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ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren is providing tips to safeguard customers in Missouri and Illinois from scam artists attempting to defraud them.

Ameren urges customers to be on alert for phone calls from scam artists who threaten disconnection of utility service unless a payment is made immediately.

"This month we are seeing an uptick in the number of reported scams, particularly those targeting businesses," said Tim Reagan, director of corporate security at Ameren. "To safeguard all of our customers, it's important that anyone who has been subject to these scams call Ameren and their local police department."

Ameren offers these tips against scammers:

• Ameren never demands personal, account or financial information for immediate payment. Never give your credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or saving account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls or sends an email requesting this information.
• Never let anyone into your home claiming to be from the utility unless they show proper Ameren badge identification. Our employees are not allowed to take payments in the field.
• Ameren never sends emails that include attachments, unless you've contacted us to specifically request information. Never open attachments unless you've contacted Ameren for the information.

If you suspect someone is impersonating an Ameren employee, end the conversation and immediately call Ameren Illinois at 1.800.755.5000 or Ameren Missouri at 1.800.552.7583. Customers can also follow Ameren on social media to receive the latest updates on scams.

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric delivery and transmission service as well as natural gas delivery service while Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas delivery service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric transmission projects. Follow the company on Twitter @AmerenCorp. For more information, visit Ameren.com.

SOURCE Ameren