DAYTON — Dayton Power and Light (DP&L) has alerted customers to an increase in scams in which a caller threatens to disconnect service if payment is not made immediately.

The caller may demand payment within an hour using a prepaid debit card or cash. The call may appear to come from a 1-800 number or falsely identify the source as a DP&L department.

Customers should be aware that this is an industry-wide problem that has affected many utilities across the country. DP&L is working with authorities to stop this unauthorized activity.

DP&L customers should keep this in mind:

• DP&L will not email or call and threaten to disconnect immediately.

• DP&L will not ask for bank information or a credit card number over the phone.

• DP&L will not require payment in a specific method.

• DP&L will only go to a door to collect payment if an account is past due and the customer has been sent notice that the account is scheduled for disconnection.

Before doing anything, keep these additional tips in mind and visit the website.

• Never give anyone personal information such as a Social Security number (or numbers from the back of a Social Security card), bank account number or credit card number, unless you initiated the conversation and you are confident the transaction is legitimate.

• If you have already provided information to someone making this offer, contact your bank and the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion immediately.

• If someone pressures you to provide personal or financial information, hang up immediately. Notify your local police department.

• Check on elderly relatives and friends who are often targets of such schemes to make sure they have not fallen victim to this fraud.

If you are worried you may have provided information to someone you are not sure was from your utility or legitimate source, contact DP&L via email or phone to let us know you were a victim of a scam and file a report with the local Better Business Bureau.