OUTAGE: Electric 913.573.9522 | Water 913.573.9622
OUTAGE:
Electric 913.573.9522
OUTAGE:
Water 913.573.9622
BPU Warns Customers of Telephone Scams Targeting Customers 2023

BPU Warns Customers of Telephone Scams Targeting Customers

(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) wants customers to be aware of utility scams telling residents their utility bills are past due and service will be shut off.

According to BPU representatives, multiple reports have been made about calls stating that utility payments are past due and service will be disconnected unless a payment is made. The caller has used caller ID spoofing to convince victims the call is from the BPU outage number, 913-573-9522. The caller will then give instructions to make a payment.

BPU will never ask for payment over the phone or threaten disconnection due to non-payment. Customers that suspect they are being targeted by a scam need to hang up right away and call the BPU Customer Service Department at 913-573-9190. If you feel you have been a victim of a scam, please work with your local law enforcement agency to report the crime.

Although BPU sometimes uses pre-recorded messages to notify customers about future dates for possible disconnection, they do not cold-call customers to demand immediate payment.

BPU offers these tips for customers to protect themselves if they are unsure about a call, email, or visit from a utility representative:


  • Never give credit or debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your door, calls, texts, and/or sends an email asking for information regarding your utility bill. Verify the request is authentic by either asking to see company identification or calling the BPU Customer Service Department.

  • Be suspicious if you receive an email regarding your utility bill if you have not requested online communications from BPU.

  • Never provide personal information via email or click any suspicious links or attachments.

BPU said electric customers have been targeted by scammers using a variety of such scam attempts for a number of years in several states besides Kansas, including Nebraska; Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; the District of Columbia; Florida; Louisiana; Maryland; Massachusetts; Mississippi; Missouri; New Jersey; New York; Oklahoma; Texas; Wisconsin; and New Mexico.

About Bpu

BPU’s water department was originally created in 1909, and its electric utility was operational in 1912. The purpose of the utility, then and to this day, is to provide the highest quality electric and water services at the lowest possible cost. Today the publicly owned utility serves approximately 65,000 electric and 53,000 water customers, primarily in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The mission of the utility and its employees is “to focus on the needs of our customers, to improve the quality of life in our community while promoting safe, reliable and sustainable utilities.” BPU’s website is www.bpu.com

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