Residents Beware of BGE Employee Impostors

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. officials are urging residents to beware of scam artists posing as BGE employees. 

The announcement was released one week after . The burglars drove a white Ford F-150 truck with a fake BGE placard attached, police said. 

BGE employee impostors have recently targeted homes and businesses in the Baltimore area, officials said. They are known to contact utility customers at home or by phone and demand payment for bills. They will often request credit card numbers and personal information. 

“BGE reminds customers that employees carry photo identification cards, which should always be visible, especially during rare instances when a BGE employee must visit a customer’s home,” said Jeannette M. Mills, chief customer officer for BGE. 

“Customers can always call BGE to verify an individual visiting their home is a BGE employee. As a reminder, BGE no longer accepts cash payments in the field and generally only requires entry into a customer’s home in response to gas or electric emergencies, to check BGE equipment, read BGE meters or to start or stop service. Additionally, customers should never give personal information such as credit card numbers to people claiming to represent BGE in telephone calls," Mills said. 

Utility impostors will often travel in pairs and carry fake credentials. Customers should also beware of representatives of third-party suppliers, according to the company announcement. 

BGE officials recommend the following safety tips:

• Do not open your door to someone you do not recognize
• Ask for a photo identification through the door or window, especially if you did not schedule a visit from BGE
• Report suspicious activity to the police and BGE
• Never give cash to someone claiming to be collecting a BGE payment