Ameren Illinois today issued a warning that con artists are attempting to defraud customers and may be attempting to steal identities.
“Ameren Illinois representatives will never call you and threaten to disconnect your utility service unless you immediately give the caller your credit or debit card number,” said Stan Ogden, vice president of Customer Service and Public Relations. “Our representatives will never come to your home and demand payments. Our field representatives will not accept payments for service.”
Identification carried by every Ameren Illinois employee shows the individual’s photograph, name, employee number and an official Ameren logo.
Ameren Illinois offered these suggestions:
• Customers who have any questions about the identity of a utility worker should ask the person to wait outside while they call for verification. Customers then should phone Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000.
• If a caller claims to be an Ameren Illinois representative and demands immediate payment over the phone or requests other personal information, hang up and call 1-800-755-5000.
• Never give anyone who comes to your home, anyone who calls or anyone who sends an e-mail your credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or saving account numbers.
• If a customer suspects a person is impersonating a utility worker, the customer should end the conversation and immediately call local police and then Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000.
• Never let anyone in your home who wants to check your electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a natural gas leak and the person has proper identification.
• Phone the police if someone calls you and requests that you leave your home at a specific time for an alleged utility issue. The caller may be planning a burglary.
• If you believe an attempt has been made to defraud you or steal your identity, report the incident immediately to your local police department.
If you have information about scams and frauds, contact your local police or Crime Stoppers.
Additional information about identity theft and fraud is available on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Web site (http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html).
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Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.
Contacts: Leigh Morris, 1-217-535-5228, lmorris@ameren.com; Victoria Busch, 1-618-346-1286, vbusch@ameren.com; Neal Johnson, 1-309-677-5284, njohnson@ameren.com