AKRON, Ohio – As winter arrives and temperatures drop, FirstEnergy utility customers should be on high alert for phone calls or door-to-door visits from scammers trying to trick them into paying fictional unpaid bills to avoid immediate shutoff.

Realizing scammers feed off people’s fear of losing heat in the cold weather, FirstEnergy and dozens of other electric and gas companies are banding together for Utility Scam Awareness Week, held Nov. 17-23, to prevent customers from falling victim to scams this season. The annual awareness week is organized by Utilities United Against Scams – a group consisting of more than 100 utilities and related organizations – to educate the public about the ever-growing list of scams targeting utility customers.

“We take our customers’ safety and security very seriously,” said Gary W. Grant, vice president of customer service for FirstEnergy Utilities. “Scammers can be very convincing and often target our most vulnerable customers, particularly senior citizens.”

To date in 2019, FirstEnergy’s utilities have received more than 1,600 reports of scams from customers – outpacing last year’s total number of reported scams by more than 200. The actual number of scam attempts is even higher since many go unreported to the company or law enforcement officials.

Although the scammers work year-round, they are most active in the winter and summer months, when people are most concerned about not having heat or air conditioning.

With a goal of keeping customers informed about all types of utility scams, FirstEnergy’s award-winning video, “Hang Up, Don’t Pay Up: When a Scammer Calls,” features two business owners contacted by phone scammers impersonating FirstEnergy electric company employees. The video – which has been viewed more than 150,000 times – provides red flags and tips for avoiding scams.