Moe Sharifi had never received such a phone call in over 20 years in the restaurant business. However, he hopes the next one won’t cost him $1,500.
"The number was 805 area code...fake case number also,” said Sharifi, owner of Pegah’s in Lenexa.
Sharifi got the call around 11 a.m. Tuesday. He said the person on the other line sounded very professional, was told they were from KCP&L and that he had an overdue bill that, if not paid that afternoon, would force them to turn off electricity to his restaurant.
"I really couldn't think about anything else other than pay the money and settle later,” said Sharifi.
The restaurant owner had always had his bills automatically debited from his account. The scammers told him their system was down. Sharifi was also in a slight panic mode because the area lost power due to a blown transformer on Sunday and was aware of the amount of money he could lose if he had to close for an entire day.
The scammers gave Sharifi two options: come down to the KCP&L office to pay the $1,500 bill, or buy three ‘Reload It’ cards and pay by phone. Sharifi chose the latter.
"We could lose… over ten thousand dollars. I went blank. I mean I didn't think about anything else except pay the bill… I didn't even know where the office was for KCPL, but I knew where the HyVee is," he said.
Sharifi said he reported the crime to police but was told there wasn’t much they could do. Once he tried calling the scammers back the number was out of service.
He did say KCP&L told him they would investigate.
KCP&L released the following statement regarding the scam:
“Most of those targeted have been restaurants and small businesses, but all customers should be aware of this important notice … With the phone scam, the caller is often a live person posing as a KCP&L employee who notifies the customer of a past due bill and demands immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. In some instances, the caller requests that the customer purchase a money gram to pay their bill. If the customer is unable to make an immediate payment or does not answer, the caller gives out a return phone number for customers to call back. When calling, customers are prompted by a recording to press two to make their payment with a live person. This phone number is not associated with KCP&L."
KCP&L said in a news release that if customers have questions about the legitimacy of a bill, phone call or email regarding their utility bill, they should refrain from providing personal or banking information, hang up and contact the KCP&L Customer Contact Center at (888) 471 - 5275 or (816) 471 - 5275.
Warning signs
KCP&L provides warning signs and ways for you to protect yourself from fraud on its website. KCP&L's website says it's employees do not do the following:
- Call and threaten disconnection if a payment is not made within 30 minutes or an hour. KCP&L employees will never give this type of deadline.
- Call and request that customers buy a pre-paid debit card, scratch off the covering and read the number beneath to pay a bill. KCP&L employees will never ask you to pay a bill this way.
- Ask for personal information via email or social media.
Click here to see other utility scam warning signs and safety tips.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com.
