PUTNAM COUNTY- The latest scam perpetuated against residents of the Hudson Valley is centered on the New York State Electric and Gas Company by individuals using aggressive methods to get customers to give up personal information.
NYSEG CEO Patricia Nilsen explained that scammers have been reported posing as utility representatives to deceive customers into divulging personal information by visiting homes or businesses or communicating with customers using a technique known as phishing, which is when fraudsters send emails aiming to obtain sensitive information.
A Carmel man received a call Monday from an individual posing to be a NYSEG representative advising his electricity would be shut off for failing to pay a bill.
“I pay my bills the moment they arrive in the mail,” said the Putnam resident who added: “I have my cancelled check to prove it.”
The fraudsters use phone calls, spoofing a legitimate phone number, making it appear like the call is coming from a trusted business.
Nilsen encouraged customers to remain vigilant against tactics such as disconnection threats, meter payment scams, overpayment scams, and door-to-door impostors adding: “We will never ask you to email us any personal information, such as payment/financial details or your address or terminate a customer’s service without providing notice for non-payment. Our customers’ security matters; we take it seriously.”
If customers are uncertain of the identity of the caller or a visitor at the door, contact the customer service team at 800-572-1111.
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