Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the company are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment.

Several customers have contacted Westar after receiving suspicious phone calls.

Some imposters are very convincing. They may use websites that allow them to manipulate caller ID, making the call appear to come from Westar. They speak with authority. When the targeted customer calls the phone number provided, the person who answers sounds like they work for Westar. In some cases, callers may even provide information, like amount due, which makes them sound credible.

“Scammers create a sense of urgency to get customers to act quickly rather than allowing them time to check their account,” said Gina Penzig, media relations manager. “We will never require a pre-paid card for payment. Also, we notify customers multiple times in advance if service may be interrupted for non-payment.”

Before acting on a call, a customer should check records to see if a recent payment has been made. If still unsure, they can call the customer relations center at 1-800-383-1183 to check their status.

If a customer receives a suspicious visit from an individual, they should report it to their local law enforcement agency.