Victim Location 25314
Type of a scam Utility
I have recently moved from an apartment and I spoke with AEP on 8/20/19 for a refund for a bill that I overpaid after stopping service. At 9:37 am EST on 8/21/19 I received a phone call from 1-918-599-2000 (Tulsa, OK) on my cell phone. The caller left a voicemail stating her name was Ann and to call back at a specific number and to use a specific extension and it was about the refund request for American Electric Power and they needed additional information from me.
The number "Ann" told me call back was 1-866-339-5574 and use extension 888. When I called that number and typed in the extension 888 it stated it is "AEP Direct Collection" and then prompted me leave a voicemail stating my full name, AEP account number and leave my day time cell phone number. I also called back the first number (1-918-599-2000) and it stated the call could not go through.
I then called AEP and they assured me it was a scam.
Victim Location 44663
Type of a scam Utility
Got a call from AEP saying my account was overdue 3 months and they needed an immediate payment to stop shutoff. I told them we were on autopay and they said something must have happened and they would take the payment and after they’d investigated the problem, if they were wrong they’d refund the money. She then offered to transfer me to her supervisor. They gave me a case # for the investigation which made it seem legit. I asked them for my account # and they made one up. I then called AEP to verify that my account was fine.
Victim Location 25701
Total money lost $1,276.21
Type of a scam Utility
My company was notified from a guy saying he was with AEP to collect on a past due balance that our service was scheduled for disconnection on same day as call. I explained I had made payment, gave him the amount and date I paid. It was explained to me that they had updated computer software and a glitch in the system had kicked my payment out for a refund and gave me a date I should receive my refund. I was placed on hold, he returned saying the service tech just called him to confirm payment before he disconnected service. He explained to the service tech that I was in the process of making service to give me about 30 mins to do so. I was told I needed to use an instant cash payment of $611.33, to purchase Money Pak card at Dollar General or Rite Aid. After making the purchase to call him back at 304-380-9002 ext 2201 (Jacob). I called him with scratch off card number on the back of Money Pak card. He wanted me to verify number twice and asked for address and zip code of store that card was purchased. He followed up with a confirmation number and said I would be notified by a supervisor within a couple hours to confirm payment and service. Within a couple hours, I was then notified by Joseph Coleman saying he was supervisor with AEP, said because I only paid past due balance and balance wasn’t paid in full that I needed to pay balance in full of additional $664.88, that we were still on schedule for disconnection on that same day. He gave me same steps to follow and to call him back at 304-380-9002 (same number as previous) ext 347. I followed instructions, then called Joseph back, received confirmation number of my payment and he said I would receive email (he verified my email) of our payment confirmation to look in spam in case it went to spam. Also said since I was on list for disconnection that if a service guy showed up to give him my confirmation number. When calling the number to schedule payments it was the exact recorded message you get when calling AEP with the same prompts.