Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the electric company are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment. Several customers have contacted Westar Energy’s Customer Relations Center after receiving suspicious phone calls. Callers appear to be targeting businesses.
“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.”
Some imposters are very convincing. They may use websites that allow them to manipulate caller ID, making the call appear to come from Westar. They speak with authority. When the targeted customer calls the phone numbers provided, the person who answers sounds like they work for Westar. In some cases, callers may even provide information like amount due that makes them sound credible.
“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 visit from an individual, he or she should also report it to their local law enforcement agency.