Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the electric company are calling with threats to disconnect service and demanding prepaid cards as payment. Several customers have contacted Westar Energy’s Customer Relations Center after receiving suspicious phone calls. In many cases, the imposters are providing a toll-free phone number that when called sounds like Westar Energy’s automated phone system.
“The caller creates a sense of panic by saying that electric service will be cut off if payment isn’t made within a short time,” Jeff Beasley, vice president, customer care, said. “They are counting on people taking action before they stop to think.”
Imposters are targeting residential and business customers. Frequently the imposters will advise the customer that a payment was not received or was applied to a wrong account and that payment must be made quickly to avoid disconnection.
“Before acting on one of these calls, check your records to see if a recent payment has been made.
If you are still unsure, call our Customer Relations Center, 1-800-383-1183, and check your account status,” Beasley said. If a customer receives a suspicious call, he or she should also report it to the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office at InYourCornerKansas.org.