Indiana American Water Reminds Customers to Guard Against Imposters and Scammers
GREENWOOD, Ind. (March 22, 2021) – In light of recent reports of scammers around the state impersonating company employees, Indiana American Water is reminding customers to be wary of individuals who may try to gain access to their homes by posing as utility personnel or are asking customers to provide personal information via phone, e-mail, or text.
“We want our customers to feel secure when our service employees reach out or visit their homes and businesses," said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. "Residents should be aware that all legitimate water company employees authorized to enter homes will be wearing clothing with our logo on it and carrying proper photo identification. Most service calls are scheduled in advance and the company makes it a practice to not accept payment during service calls or shut-offs.”
Pretending to be a trusted utility worker is a trick some criminals use to gain access to homes, obtain payments, or steal personal information. Utilities often see spikes in these types of impersonations and scams when customers are most vulnerable. Indiana American Water recommends customers take the following precautions when approached by someone who says they are a utility worker:
- Always ask for a company-issued photo ID. Indiana American Water employees carry company-issued photo ID badges. Do not open the door to anyone who cannot provide this.
- Never give cash. Our employees never collect money or credit card information from customers in the field.
- Look for the logo. All Indiana American Water service personnel wear uniforms and drive company-branded vehicles with the logo.
- If you suspect someone may be a utility imposter, close and lock your door, and call 911. You can also call Indiana American Water at 1-800-492-8373 to report the incident and confirm whether service work is scheduled in the area.
- For customers that may receive phone calls, e-mails or texts from people claiming to work for the water company, you should never give out credit card, account information, or other personal information like your social security number or date of birth if you have doubts about who you are dealing with. If you have concerns, we recommend calling us directly as a means of verifying that you are being contacted by an actual company employee.
“There is no need to feel uneasy about making someone wait until you're sure the person is a legitimate utility worker," said Prine. “Indiana American Water employees care about our customers' safety, and our employees don't mind the wait. We believe it's worth the peace of mind for our customers.”
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.32 million people. For more information, visit www.indianaamwater.com and follow Indiana American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
GREENWOOD, Ind. (March 22, 2021) – In light of recent reports of scammers around the state impersonating company employees, Indiana American Water is reminding customers to be wary of individuals who may try to gain access to their homes by posing as utility personnel or are asking customers to provide personal information via phone, e-mail, or text.
“We want our customers to feel secure when our service employees reach out or visit their homes and businesses," said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. "Residents should be aware that all legitimate water company employees authorized to enter homes will be wearing clothing with our logo on it and carrying proper photo identification. Most service calls are scheduled in advance and the company makes it a practice to not accept payment during service calls or shut-offs.”
Pretending to be a trusted utility worker is a trick some criminals use to gain access to homes, obtain payments, or steal personal information. Utilities often see spikes in these types of impersonations and scams when customers are most vulnerable. Indiana American Water recommends customers take the following precautions when approached by someone who says they are a utility worker:
- Always ask for a company-issued photo ID. Indiana American Water employees carry company-issued photo ID badges. Do not open the door to anyone who cannot provide this.
- Never give cash. Our employees never collect money or credit card information from customers in the field.
- Look for the logo. All Indiana American Water service personnel wear uniforms and drive company-branded vehicles with the logo.
- If you suspect someone may be a utility imposter, close and lock your door, and call 911. You can also call Indiana American Water at 1-800-492-8373 to report the incident and confirm whether service work is scheduled in the area.
- For customers that may receive phone calls, e-mails or texts from people claiming to work for the water company, you should never give out credit card, account information, or other personal information like your social security number or date of birth if you have doubts about who you are dealing with. If you have concerns, we recommend calling us directly as a means of verifying that you are being contacted by an actual company employee.
“There is no need to feel uneasy about making someone wait until you're sure the person is a legitimate utility worker," said Prine. “Indiana American Water employees care about our customers' safety, and our employees don't mind the wait. We believe it's worth the peace of mind for our customers.”
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.32 million people. For more information, visit www.indianaamwater.com and follow Indiana American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.