DP&L says its customers are being targeted with scams

TY GREENLEES / STAFF

TY GREENLEES / STAFF

Dayton Power and Light has received an increase in reports about payment scams targeting their residential and business customers.

Customers have reported they are receiving phone calls that appear to be from DP&L, saying that electric service would be disconnected if the customer does not call back within an hour with payment, the company said.

DP&L said in a release that customers should hang up and call DP&L at 800-433-8500 to verify before giving out personal or payment information. Customers can also check their account status online by signing into mydpandl.com.

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The three most common scams include:

• Callers threatening disconnection if payment is not received immediately.

• Callers asking customers to send a pre-paid debit card to pay their bill or to replace dangerous equipment.

• Callers targeting small businesses during peak business hours, such as restaurants at lunch time. The scammers try to catch employees off guard to gain account information, and to instill fear that power will be turned off.

Elderly people and small businesses are the biggest targets for these scammers.

Scammers usually have information on those that are being targeted and will try to persuade customers to provide more so they can gain access to bank accounts and/or use credit card numbers.

Scams can use email, social media, phone calls or even door-to-door visits. Many victims received forwarded emails or text messages from friends and family who were also victimized.

For more information on how to protect customers from these scams, go to dpandl.com/scam.

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