The East Peoria Police Department is warning businesses and residential customers to be on alert for Ameren utility scams. Posing as electric, water, or natural gas company employees, scammers threaten to disconnected or shut off service if customers do not make an immediate payment by prepaid card or other non-traceable form of payment.
Here are ways to protect yourself:
Never give your credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who calls, sends an email or comes to your home requesting this information.
Sign up to manage your account online at
Ameren.com where you can immediately check the status of your account.
Never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shut-off. In addition, never download an app to make immediate payment. Legitimate utility companies don't specify how customers should make a bill payment and always offer a variety of ways to pay a bill. Ameren customers can make payments online, by phone, electronic check, mail or at in-person payment locations.
For more information, visit
Ameren.com/stop-scammers. Customers should also follow Ameren on social media to receive the latest updates on scams.