I-TEAM: Toledo Edison text circulating on social media is not a scam, company says

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - FirstEnergy is assuring residents that an image of a text message that’s been circulating on social media was in fact communication from a Toledo Edison representative and not a scammer.

A Toledo Edison customer received a text that read, “this is Yazmine from Toledo edison would you mind sending a picture of your electric meter. Thanks.”

An image of that text had local communities wondering if it was a scam attempt. The Action News I-Team confirmed it was not a scam with a spokesperson for the company. The FirstEnergy spokesperson said the text came from an employee who was unable to get to the customer’s meter to get an actual reading. The employee wanted to give the customer the opportunity to send a photo to avoid getting an estimated bill instead.

“Meter readers at Toledo Edison occasionally encounter situations where direct access to the meter is hindered due to factors such as locked gates or the presence of a dog on the property,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to 13 Action News. “In such cases, our employees make diligent efforts to establish contact with the customer using alternative methods, such as telephone calls and leaving a doorhanger behind at the property.”

A spokesperson with FirstEnergy said texting customers is typically used as a last resort or used when customers indicate its their preferred method of communication. The company has since given additional coaching on how to better word these text messages so they appear more credible to the employee who sent the text that sparked the scam questions.

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