Elizabethtown Gas Warns Customers Of Utility Scams

UNION, NJ — Elizabethtown Gas is offering tips to protect customers against utility scams as part of Utilities United Against Scams Day.

The campaign exposes the tactics scammers use to steal money from customers, and shows how customers can protect themselves.

Red flags for scam activity

• The individual becomes angry and tells the customer his or her account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn’t made – usually within less than an hour.
• The individual instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores – then call him or her back to supposedly make a payment to the company.
• The individual asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds.

How to protect yourself

• Whenever a field service representative or one of our contractors visits your home or business, they will provide Elizabethtown Gas identification. If you have further concerns, contact customer care at 1-800-242-5830 to confirm that a representative has been scheduled to perform work at your premises.
• When a customer service representative contacts you by phone regarding the status of your account or to discuss payment, they will identify that they are an Elizabethtown Gas employee.
• If you want to verify that the call is legitimate, request to have the representative confirm information about your account that only you and the company would know, including the date of your last payment, the amount of your last payment and your account number.
• Elizabethtown Gas will never demand payment by one method such as prepaid debit /ATM card or checking account.
• Any customer who has doubts about the legitimacy of any call from Elizabethtown Gas, especially one in which payment is requested, should call Elizabethtown Gas directly. If you feel uncomfortable and know you have an outstanding balance that needs to be resolved, hang up and call Elizabethtown Gas directly.

Customers who suspect or experience fraud, or feel threatened during contact with an individual posing as a company representative, should contact local authorities, and then the Customer Care Center at 1-800-242-5830.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.