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Delmarva Power warns of utility scams during pandemic

April 5, 2020

With Delaware, Maryland and the world experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delmarva Power is reminding customers to always be on alert for potential scams targeting energy customers.

Scams occur throughout the year, but the company has seen an increase in scammers using this health crisis to take advantage of energy customers across the United States. The company has received reports that scammers are threatening to shut service off, and also are offering cash or credit incentives in order to obtain a customer’s personal or financial information.

"It is unfortunate that scammers are using the public’s concerns around health and financial uncertainty to deceive and further harm our customers,” said Derrick Dickens, senior vice president and chief customer officer for Pepco Holdings, which includes Delmarva Power. “We want to provide our customers with tools and information that can help ward off would-be scammers and help put a stop to these ongoing scamming attempts.”

In some cases, scammers are duplicating the recorded message that customers hear when calling a legitimate company, so it sounds like an actual business when customers call the number on their phone. Some scammers also use caller ID spoofing to replicate an energy company’s phone number.

Any customers who believe they have been scammer targets are urged to contact their local police and call Delmarva Power immediately at 800-375-7117 to report the situation.

Customers can avoid problems by taking a few precautions: Never provide a Social Security number or personal information to anyone initiating contact and claiming to be a company representative or requesting money be sent to another person or entity other than Delmarva Power. Always ask to see a company photo ID before allowing any Delmarva Power worker into a home or business. Never make a payment for services to anyone coming to the door.

Delmarva Power representatives will never ask or require a customer with a past due balance to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection. Customers can make payments online, by phone, via automatic bank withdrawal or by mail.

Customers with a past due balance will receive multiple shutoff notifications, never a single notification one hour before disconnection.

If customers ever question the legitimacy of a call, they should hang up and call Delmarva Power at 800-375-7117.

 

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