Jasper County Sheriff: Scam artist calling claimed to be Empire District Electric

(From the Jasper County Sheriff's Office)

SCAM ALERT

We have had a few calls about someone calling claiming they represent a company and they are calling on behalf of Empire District Electric. They tell the customer they are behind on their payment, and need to collect payment to ensure they do not loose power.

Here are some of the warning signs that Empire District Electric has on their webpage to keep their customers from being victimized.

RED FLAGS – End Contact and Report to Empire.
• Requests for payment over the phone by prepaid credit card.
• Calls on the weekend demanding immediate payment.
• Individuals asking to enter your home to inspect wiring or equipment, unless you have called Empire at 800-206-2300 and requested an appointment with us.
• Individuals requesting payment or offering services that are not in an Empire vehicle, do not have a company identification card, and are not wearing an Empire logo/uniform.
• Emails requesting personal, account, or financial information.
• Emails including attachments, unless you’ve contacted us to specifically request the information.

VALID EMPIRE PRACTICES
• We provide various payment options including:
MyEbill – using secure online access through MyAccount
Credit, debit or ACH - online or by phone using third party vendor Western Union Speedpay.
Other – Visit www.empiredistrict.com/CustomerService and click on Payment Information for a complete list of payment options.
• Empire will notify you before a disconnection by mail, door tag and/or by phone during normal business hours. A field representative with proper identification may also notify you in person.

If you receive a call or visit that appears suspicious, always end the contact immediately and report it to local law enforcement.

You may call Empire anytime at 800-206-2300 to check on your account status and verify whether the contact is legitimate. Your payment history is also avalailable online with MyAccount. Also, if you have family or friends who may be at risk of falling for one of these scams, be sure to discuss this important information with them.