NARRATOR At ComEd, the health and safety of our customers, employees, and contractors are our top priority. ?As part of this commitment,?we’re closely monitoring developments related to the coronavirus pandemic and taking the appropriate precautions. Because of social distancing while filming this video, I’m now going to remove my mask so that I can speak to you directly. I’m here today on behalf of ComEd to talk about how we’re committed to helping our customers. The 1st topic I’d like to cover is Consumer Protection. Nowadays, scams are at an all-time high. Every day, scammers are thinking up new ways to trick customers into sharing their personal information. They do this for many reasons. It could be to make unauthorized changes to your account, steal your banking information, or even steal your identity. The more personal information that you share with strangers that solicit you, the more likely you are to fall for a scam. That’s why it’s important to keep your guard up and not get scammed. Scammers posing as ComEd may make calls from what appears to be a ComEd phone number. Don’t fall for it. There’s a practice called “spoofing”, where scammers use a free program online to make the caller ID say whatever they want it to. They can make it say “Emergency Services 9-1-1”, “IRS”, or, even “ComEd”. That’s why nowadays, you can’t always trust your Caller ID. To protect yourself, don’t share personal information with strangers calling you. If you need to make a payment, call that company directly at their official phone number on their bill. For ComEd that’s 1-800-EDISON-1. Scammers may ask you to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card or cryptocurrency. Don’t fall for it. Again, if you need to make a direct payment to ComEd, call us directly at the number on your bill, 1-800-EDISON-1 or visit ComEd.com. A common scam these days involves someone posing as ComEd, calling to say that your account is past due and they’re about to shut off your service, unless you buy a prepaid cash card. Don’t fall for it. It’s a scam. They may also ask you to call them back at a different number with personal information. Again, don’t do it. If you need to conduct business with ComEd, call us at the number on your bill, 1-800-EDISON-1 or visit ComEd.com. That way, you know it’s official, and not a scam. Scammers may also show up at your door, wearing ComEd branded clothing and a fake ID badge. Just because they’re wearing ComEd clothes does not mean they’re legitimate. When in doubt, shut them out and call 1-800-EDISON-11 to confirm someone is really a ComEd employee. A true ComEd employee is happy to wait while the call is made. We know how common scams are, and we want our customers to protect themselves and to feel safe. Scammers may also ask for your account number or to see your bill. I know I’m starting to sound repetitive but, don’t do it! I can’t stress that enough. ComEd will never call you or show up at your door asking for your account number. You’re our customer. We already have that information. But scammers don’t, and that’s why they ask for it. A question I always get is, “Someone knocked on my door asking to sell me electricity, is that a scam?” You do have a choice when it comes to your electric supplier. If you live in ComEd service territory, you'll still be a ComEd customer on the delivery end, meaning ComEd owns and maintains the equipment that delivers electricity to your home. But you are able to pick who you buy the electricity from that travels through our lines to power your home. These companies are called Retail Electric Suppliers, and there are over 60 different supplier choices that you have to choose from. With that being said, the person at your door may be a legitimate Retail Electric Supplier, or they may be a scammer. To be on the safe side, do not hand your bill over or share personal information with strangers knocking on your door. Visit PluginIllinois.org to view and compare all of your supplier choices side by side, to make the best informed decision for your household. PluginIllinois.org is run by the ICC, which regulates the utilities, so you can be assured it's a safe, neutral source of information. So be informed, and don’t get scammed. To summarize, ComEd will never come to your home or business to sell you electricity, or ask for your account number, or ask for immediate payment in any form, or ask for your personal information such as social security or bank information. If you’re ever suspicious of a caller or someone knocking at your door claiming to be from ComEd, call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 to verify, or to report a suspected scam. Please make sure to share this information with any friends or family that can benefit from anything that I went over today. Thanks for watching. ComEd. Powering Lives.