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Pepco, along with more than 100 energy companies across the U.S. and Canada, wants to remind customers to stay vigilant against energy-related scams designed to steal money and personal information.

While scams do occur throughout the year, fraudulent activity and scam attempts generally increase during the holiday season. Pepco encourages customers to be extra cautious this time of year as scams targeting utility customers have become increasingly sophisticated due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.

One of the most common tactics involves a scammer calling a customer and demanding an immediate payment via prepaid debit or credit card to avoid service disconnection.

These impostors often pose as utility company employees, instructing the customer to purchase a prepaid card from a nearby convenience store or pharmacy, then call back to complete the “payment.” This approach can feel surprisingly authentic, as scammers can manipulate caller IDs and even replicate utility companies’ official voice greetings and hold recordings.

As Utilities United Against Scams suggests, be suspicious: Ask the person on the phone or at your door to provide you with your account number, your last payment amount, date of payment, and his or her employee identification number. If they are a legitimate utility representative, this information will be readily accessible. If not, hang up or shut the door, and call your utility.

Tips to identify scams

Pepco will never:

• Ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card or cryptocurrency.
• Request your Pepco account number or personal information like a social security number, driver’s license number or bank statement.
• Visit homes or businesses to discuss service disconnection without prior contact.
• Lack a company ID. All field employees wear a uniform with the Pepco logo, including a shirt and safety vest. Employees also display a company ID badge with the Pepco logo and their name.

Generative AI also represents a growing threat and allows scammers to create highly realistic, human-like content. This technology makes scams appear more credible, which is why it’s crucial to stay cautious and always verify any unexpected or suspicious communication.

Be on the lookout for:

• Deep fakes: Digitally manipulated images or videos that mimic real people. (Hint: Choose a code word that only your family knows.)
• Voice cloning: Impersonates individuals to carry out scams
• Phishing and malware: AI-written phishing emails, texts and malware

If a customer ever questions the legitimacy of a call or visit to their home, they should contact Pepco at (202) 833-7500. Any customer who believes they have been a target of a scam is urged to contact their local police and call Pepco immediately to report the situation.

To learn more about preventing scams, visit Pepco.com/Scams or utilitiesunited.org.

Rod Wilson is senior communications specialist at Pepco, an Exelon company.