PSEG LI Phone Scams: What To Look Out For

LONG ISLAND, NY — PSEG Long Island is warning local residents that phone scam attempts are on the rise. According to the electric company, these "sophisticated" scammers have even been modifying the caller ID to read "PSEG Long Island" to lead people to believe it is a legitimate call from PSEG.

Last year, over 6,600 scam calls were reported to PSEG Long Island, an increase from the 4,088 scam calls reported in 2018. However, it does seem that more Long Islanders are becoming aware of these scams. In 2018, a total of 5 percent of reported calls resulted in customers losing money, down from 8.2 percent in 2015

"Phone scammers want their targets to panic so they don’t think clearly," Rick Walden, vice president of customer operations, PSEG Long Island said. "If you receive a call about a past-due bill, don’t panic."

Some signs that Walden says to look out for to indicate the call may not be legitimate include a specific payment type or an imminent threat of disconnection.

"Our representatives will never demand immediate payment and, though we offer a variety of payment options, they do not include pre-paid debit cards or bitcoin," he said. "Additionally, if a customer is scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment, they will receive written notice on their bill at least 10 days in advance."

Here are some other signs to look out for that indicate a call is a scam:

• You receive a call from what looks like PSEG Long Island on your caller ID.
• The caller threatens to shut off your service and demands an immediate payment by pre-paid card, wire transfer or bitcoin.
• The caller informs you that you require a new meter and demands a deposit before the installation can occur.
• You're given a phone number to call back that, when called, may sound similar to PSEG Long Island’s automated call system.

According to PSEG Long Island, the company will never ask for a pre-paid card, wire transfer or bitcoin. Scammers ask for them because they are untraceable.

If you receive a scam phone call, the company advises to hang up immediately and not provide any personal information or account information. Customers can then call PSEG Long Island at 1-800-490-0025 to report the scam.

What PSEG Long Island will and won’t discuss over the phone:

• A genuine PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the Customer of Record.
• If that person is available, the representative will explain why they are calling and provide the account name, address and current balance.
• If the Customer of Record is not available, the PSEG Long Island representative will not discuss the account at all and ask that a message be left for the Customer of Record to call 1-800-490-0025.

In addition, customers have reported receiving scam emails that appear to be bills from the utility. These emails request personal information that could lead to identity theft. PSEG Long Island does not ask customers to provide personal information online without first logging into the My Account section of www.psegliny.com. Never provide any personal information requested by email. Do not download any attachments, and do not click on any links in the email. Instead, open a browser window, visit www.psegliny.com and log into My Account to get accurate account information, or call PSEG Long Island customer service.

Any customer who has doubts about the legitimacy of a call or email — especially one in which payment is requested — should call the PSEG Long Island directly at 1-800-490-0025 or visit a PSEG Long Island Customer Service Center. Service Centers are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with locations listed on customer bills and online at: psegliny.com.

For more information on various payment scams in the PSEG Long Island service area and around the country, visit www.psegliny.com/scam.