Press release
ComEd Warns of Imposters Approaching Customers at Home to Steal Money and Personal Information
Scammers pose as ComEd or other service workers to lure residents outside, while accomplices enter empty homes to steal possessions CHICAGO--(BUSINESS
About this update from Exelon Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"\nScammers pose as ComEd or other service workers to lure residents outside, while accomplices enter empty homes to steal possessions\n\n CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nWith people spending more time at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, imposters are taking advantage of residents who may be alone to rob them of their possessions and financial information. These imposters can show up at small businesses as well as homes.\n\nIn this latest scam, an individual may pose as an employee from ComEd, another utility or a tree service company. They will lure the resident or small-business owner outside to discuss work that they claim needs to be completed. While the individual is outside, an accomplice will enter the home or business to steal valuables and documents containing the individual’s personal or financial information.\n\n“We see an unsettling number of scams involving imposters who take advantage of unsuspecting ComEd customers,” said Nichole Owens, ComEd vice president of customer channels. “To help protect families and businesses from fraudulent activity that could affect their electric service, finances and personal property, it’s important to help customers know what to look out for.”\n\nSince 2017, ComEd has tracked a 60-percent increase in reports of scams and scam attempts into its call center. For these reasons, ComEd reminds customers to be on the lookout for imposters trying to steal from them using energy-related scams.\n\nAs the COVID-19 pandemic takes a financial toll on families and businesses across northern Illinois, scammers also are increasing their efforts to take advantage of vulnerable customers who may be struggling to pay their bills. During the pandemic, ComEd has received reports of scammers posing as utility representatives who contact customers experiencing difficulty paying their bills. These imposters prey on these customers’ financial situation by falsely threatening to shut off service to obtain money or a customer’s personal, business or financial information.\n\nAnother common scheme involves scammers using technology to make their phone calls appear to come from a ComEd phone number and threatening to turn off a customer’s service unless they make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card. Sometimes they ask victims to call back at a different phone number and provide personal information. In...