UNIONDALE, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A recent home invasion has prompted PSEG Long Island to send out a reminder to its customers about proper protocol for the electric company, and by extension, how to spot frauds.
The home invasion took place in North Hills last month and involved three criminals dressed in utility uniforms. The men claimed they needed to enter the home to check on a gas leak, but instead stole from the resident.
PSEG wants customers to be aware of how their workers dress, and what a home visit typically entails.
"In most cases, PSEG Long Island employees do not need to come inside your home to perform their work,” Vice President of Customer Operations for PSEG Lou Debrino said. “Most meters are located outside, as is most of the electric equipment our company maintains. Our employees always wear their PSEG Long Island ID cards.”
Employees of PSEG are required to carry a company ID and present it when requested. If unsure, the utility company encourages customers to not open the door, which a PSEG employee would respect.
Scammers, however, may escalate efforts to enter, at which point the utility company said customers should consider calling 911.
These frauds may be carrying fake IDs, wearing “uniforms” with a fake logo, or affixing the logo to their car
The utility company said that “scammers generally ask for personal information, which real utility representatives do not do, or offer bogus discounts.”
Phone scams are also common, PSEG said, with con artists calling residents and businesses on Long Island or the Rockaways and demanding payment for supposed unpaid bills. “Spoofing” technology could potentially make the caller ID read “PSEG Long Island.”
If someone calls demanding payment and threatening a shutoff, customers should hand up and call a PSEG Long Island representative at the official line, 1-800-490-0025.
PSEG also noted that it does not accept external, web-based electronic payment services, Bitcoin or prepaid debit cards as forms of payment.
Anyone demanding payment through an alternative method is not authentic.
On the phone, a legitimate PSEG representative will ask to speak to the customer whose name is associated with the account. If available, the representative will then explain why they are calling, and list out the account name, address and current balance.
If the person on the other line doesn’t provide this information, the customer is likely not interacting with an official representative.
“The safety of customers and employees is our top priority at PSEG Long Island,” Debrino said. “Never open the door if you have any suspicion that the person knocking is not a legitimate PSEG Long Island employee.”