This week’s scam alert features a dangerous scheme targeting customers of Ohio Edison, part of a wave of electric bill-related fraud calls sweeping through Ohio and surrounding states. These calls are not just a nuisance—they’re a direct attempt to steal personal and billing information by impersonating a trusted utility provider.
The Pitch
In this scam, the caller introduces himself as Mr. Ellington and claims he’s reaching out to help you review the supply charges on your electric bill. The message is urgent and sounds official, urging you to return the call with your statement in hand. A fake reference number is provided, which is meant to make the request sound more legitimate and administrative.
Audio transcript:
“This is Mr. Ellington. I was trying to reach you regarding an important matter of reviewing the supply charges for your Ohio Edison electric statement. Please return my call at 740-983-7600. Again that number is 740-983-7600 and please have a statement available to review your reference number is 01465. I’ll speak to you soon.”
The real goal of the call? Trick you into disclosing personal account details or energy usage data—information that can then be used in identity theft, unauthorized utility account changes, or to sell fraudulent services.
What Makes This Scam So Dangerous
- It uses a trusted name. Ohio Edison is a real energy provider, which makes this impersonation highly believable to unsuspecting customers.
- It preys on confusion. “Supply charges” is a vague but plausible term—many customers may not fully understand their electric bills and could be easily convinced that a review is needed.
- It provides a callback number and fake reference code. These elements add false legitimacy and pressure the recipient to act quickly.
- It’s been detected in multiple states. While most active in Ohio and Pennsylvania, this scam has also impacted residents in Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.
Most Common Scam Numbers
Several numbers have been linked to this fraudulent campaign, including:
These numbers often rotate, making them harder to block manually.
How YouMail Is Helping
This scam has a Fraud Score of 98%—a clear indicator of danger. YouMail users are automatically protected, thanks to our spam detection technology, which flags and blocks high-risk calls before they reach your phone. We also provide audio transcripts and samples to help you recognize suspicious calls.
What You Should Do
- Don’t return unknown calls, even with a reference number. If it’s really from your utility provider, they’ll send an official notice or allow you to call them through a verified number on your bill.
- Never provide personal or billing information over the phone. Especially when you didn’t initiate the call.
- Use a robocall blocking app like YouMail to screen your calls and prevent scam numbers from reaching you.
Scammers are getting more creative every day. Staying alert—and using apps like YouMail—is your best defense.
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