PSE&G Utility Scam Targeting Middlesex County Residents, Prosecutor Warns

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Authorities are warning residents about a wave of scams targeting PSE&G customers, with fraudsters posing as utility representatives to steal personal information and passwords.

Reports of the scams have surfaced across Middlesex County and nationwide, the Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Scammers are contacting customers through unsolicited phone calls, text messages and emails, falsely claiming that terms of service have changed, that payments have not been received or that credits are available on their accounts.

Fraudulent websites mimicking PSE&G's official site often contain subtle typos or misspellings in their web addresses.

HOW THE SCAM WORKS

In the most commonly reported version, a caller claims to be a PSE&G representative and warns that a technician is on the way to disconnect service for non-payment. To make the call seem legitimate, the scammer may correctly confirm the victim's address.

The caller then instructs the potential victim to call a fraudulent number — most recently 1-888-588-9167, option 1 — and speak with a supposed manager to resolve the issue. From there, victims may be manipulated into surrendering passwords and personal information.

IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR DOOR

Residents should take the following steps if someone appears at their home claiming to be a PSE&G employee:

• Call 911 immediately if you believe the person is an imposter and feel unsafe.

• Ask for identification. All PSE&G employees are required to carry and present ID upon request.

• If you are not convinced the person is a legitimate employee, do not let them inside. Call PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) to verify whether a technician has been dispatched to your address.

• If the person at your door provides a different phone number for verification, do not call it. Only use 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).

Residents should also know that PSE&G will never send employees to a home or small business offering cash refunds on deposits or utility charges. The company will only issue credits to an account or mail a check to the service address on file.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Authorities offer the following tips to avoid falling victim to utility scams:

• Never provide personal information such as a date of birth or Social Security number.

• Do not share account login credentials or financial account information.

• Enable two-step verification on accounts whenever the option is available.

• Block suspicious phone numbers and report fraudulent texts as junk or spam.

Anyone who believes they have been victimized should contact their local police department. Scams can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

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