Tennessee American Water is making customers aware of a potential utility scam after receiving reports from some customers about a person or persons claiming to be a Tennessee American Water worker(s). The individual or individuals who may be impersonating Tennessee American Water field employees is asking for payment to perform work such as removing a backflow device or checking pressure on a pressure reducer valve. The company wants customers to know that field employees who are working at a home or business would not ask that a payment be made through them. In addition, the examples of services that customers have been offered by this/these individual(s) are not services that Tennessee American Water performs.
To protect consumers, they are providing the following consumer tips:
How to identify a legitimate Tennessee American Water employee at your home or place of business:
• Legitimate Tennessee American Water utility workers will wear a uniform with the company logo;
• Legitimate utility workers will present a photo ID badge; and
• Legitimate utility workers drive work vehicles that prominently display the company’s name.
How to identify legitimate request for payment of a bill:
• Field employees who are working at a home or business would not ask that a payment be made through them;
• Instead, they would direct customers to the appropriate payment phone number or authorized in-person payment locations;
• Utility worker imposters may use tactics over the phone such as demanding immediate payment or payment via a pre-loaded credit card; and
• Customers should also be aware that some scammers are able to change the number on caller ID to appear as a legitimate phone call.
Customers with any doubts of the legitimacy of a worker at their property or from a phone call should contact the appropriate utility as well as local law enforcement, officials said.