| Each
year, PPL is notified of instances where customers were
defrauded by individuals claiming to be from the utility.
While these incidents are isolated, we are urging customers
to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
“We’ve been alerted
to several scams where thieves are using the good reputation
of PPL and the trust we have established with our customers
to engage in fraudulent activity.
We offer the following suggestions to help ensure customers
and their personal information, bank accounts and sense of
security are kept safe:
-
Please be aware
of our practices, identification and methods of
contacting customers:
-
PPL
employees wear identification badges when performing
work in the field. If the ID is not visible and you
don’t see any other PPL logo, you should ask
the individual to show you their badge.
-
Our employees
will not demand immediate payment for LAB work any other service. Be
suspicious of anyone who approaches you and asks for
on-the-spot payment, especially if they ask for cash.
-
Please call us
immediately to report an attempted scam at
713.680.9425, and contact the Consumer Protection
Agency in your state.
Ultimately, the
recent scams can have two significantly negative impacts.
One is the obvious and often immediate monetary impact for
the victim. The second is more far-reaching as it may lead
to the theft of one’s identity. Following are some steps to
take if you believe more than just money has been stolen:
-
Report to law
enforcement. Provide as much documentation as you can
and request a copy of the police report to give to
creditors.
-
Place a fraud
alert on your credit report. Call the toll-free numbers
of the three major credit bureaus to place the alert:
Equifax, 1-800-525-6285 (to report fraud) or
1-800-685-1111 ( to request your credit report),
Experian, 1-888-397-3742, TransUnion, 1-800-680-7289 (to
report fraud) or 1-800-888-4213 (to request your credit
report)
-
Close accounts
that have been compromised. Also put a “stop payment” on
outstanding checks.
We encourage people
to be vigilant in safeguarding their personal information,
and to remember the most basic rule of all — use common
sense. If something about the situation doesn’t feel right,
it’s better to be safe rather than sorry and to check up on
the person or request before acting. |
Take
precautions to avoid becoming a victim of fraud
