As the number of scams targeting utility customers continue to rise at an alarming rate, AES Indiana, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), is helping customers recognize potential scams during National Consumer Protection Week, March 6-12, 2022. The week-long advocacy and awareness campaign is focused on helping customers avoid scams.
One of the most common types of utility scams involves customers receiving unsolicited calls, texts, emails, and in-person communications by an individual claiming to represent the utility. Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also target small business owners during busy customer service hours.
Signs of a potential scam
- Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.
- Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate.
- Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to make an immediate payment or purchase a prepaid card then call them back allegedly to make a bill payment.
With the right information, customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams. AES Indiana would like to remind customers of our process for requesting and receiving customer information for billing purposes:
- AES Indiana does not require nor recommend a specific payment method or type. We offer a variety of payment options. Payment and billing options can be found online at AESIndiana.com.
- If AES Indiana does call a customer, our representative will have specific and accurate information related to the customer’s billing account.
- Do not provide personal information or comply with requests for payment unless you are confident with whom you’re speaking to. Customers are asked to notify AES Indiana if they receive a call and are unsure that the caller is truly an AES Indiana employee. Please call AES Indiana at 317-261-8222 if you’re a residential customer or 317-261-8444 if you’re a business customer to verify any questions you may have related to AES Indiana bill payment and collection.
If you suspect you have been impacted by a scam, please call your local police department non-emergency number immediately to report it. Additionally, please share this information with friends and colleagues who could potentially become victims of these scams.
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About AES Indiana
AES Indiana, an AES Company, provides retail electric service to more than 500,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, AES Indiana has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more information about the company, please Connect with AES Indiana on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For more information about how AES Indiana is accelerating the future of energy, visit aesindiana.com/hellofuture.