Jersey Central Power And Light Warns Of Latest Scam

Don’t fall for this one.

Jersey Central Power and Light is warning customers to beware of callers posing as JCP&L employees and threatening to shut off service unless an immediate payment is made.

Customers are told make a payment using a pre-paid debit card -like a Green Dot/MoneyPak card - Money Gram or Western Union, or in person at a location.

The scammers have gotten so sophisticated they often use Caller ID spoofing software to fool customers into thinking they are receiving calls from JCP&L and may even provide fake ”verification” numbers. The call-back numbers even include greetings and hold messages you would hear if you called JCP&L’s customer service.

What to remember:

· If your account is past due, you will receive a written notice of your account status, with instructions on how to avoid disconnection of service.

· While JCP&L representatives may call a customer whose bill is in arrears in order to remind them that a payment is due, the representative would explain how a payment can be made using JCP&L’s established payment options.

· They will not demand a payment over the phone or at a particular physical location.

· JCP&L does not accept prepaid debit cards or wire transfers as payment, and our representatives will not demand your bank information or credit card number over the phone.

What you should do:

· If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.

· If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, please contact your local police department or the state attorney general’s office.

· If you have purchased a Green Dot card to pay your electric bill and would like to request a refund from Green Dot/MoneyPak, visitwww.moneypak.com/refundrequest.aspx.

*FirstEnergy is not affiliated with Green Dot Corporation and is not responsible for any refunds associated with Green Dot purchases. Any questions regarding the MoneyPak Refund Request should be directed to Green Dot Corporation.