Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer is warning local residents about a recent scam that can be particularly alarming to people during this hot weather.
For this scam, someone claiming to be from AmerenUE calls people and tells them they are late paying their electric bill, usually by $700, and then demands that they get a prepaid bank card for the amount owed and read the number from the card over the phone, Boyer said in a written statement.
The scammers tell their targets that if they don’t pay their alleged late bills immediately, then their electric service will be shut off, according to statement.
Boyer says AmerenUE will never call someone and demand immediate payment over the phone
“Do not give any personal information out over the phone and call the Better Business Bureau or your local law enforcement agency to verify any similar phone calls,” he said.