Illinois American Water Provides Tips for Identifying Scammers on Utility Scam Awareness Day

 

[November 21, 2024]   Illinois American Water wants to keep customers and the general public safe on Utility Scam Awareness Day by providing important tips to help identify and avoid scammers targeting unsuspecting utility customers.

Utility company imposters often attempt to scam individuals in two main ways: 1) they may pose as utility workers to gain access to someone's home; 2) they might urgently contact the person, either by phone or another method, demanding immediate payment to prevent a disruption in services. It's important to be cautious and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a utility worker before letting them into your home or providing any personal information.

Illinois American Water urges customers and the general public to verify the identity of utility workers by requesting identification before granting access to their homes or businesses. All Illinois American Water employees carry a company-issued photo ID, wear company branded clothing and safety vests, and drive company branded vehicles.

Always verify. When unsure about an incoming phone call or email, stop the communication and verify with the utility company's customer service number to confirm legitimacy.

Be skeptical. When receiving a phone call, text message, email, or visit from someone, be sure to ask questions and verify their identity before giving out any personal or financial information.
Remain calm. Scammers thrive on panic. If you are worried, hang up the phone or close and lock your door, and call your utility company to verify.

Never give cash. Our employees and contractors never collect money or credit card information from customers in the field.
As part of ongoing water meter replacement and testing efforts, appointments are required for any water meter located inside a home or building. Illinois American Water employees will never knock on customer doors and request access to homes without a scheduled appointment. Once an appointment is scheduled, customers can view the date and time by logging into their account on the company’s online portal MyWater.

By implementing these tips, you can stay one step ahead and safeguard your personal information from being compromised.

For more information, visit the Better Business Bureau here.

[Text received from Anna Kubas
Senior Manager, External Communications]