PSE&G warns customers about phone scams

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is urging its customers to be cautious of callers who demand immediate payment via a pre-paid card, and wary of phony utility workers showing up at their door to “check a problem.”

“We’ve seen a significant uptick in the number of scams being reported to us by customers,” said Greg Dunlap, vice president of customer operations for PSE&G. “The only way to protect against these scams is for customers to be cautious when contacted by someone seeking access to their home or demanding immediate payment. Even one customer being cheated is one too many.”

Phone scammers use scare tactics such as threatening service termination if they do not receive immediate payment with a pre-paid credit card. PSE&G offers a number of payment options and would never require a customer to use one specific type of payment, representatives said.

Door-to-door scammers use trickery such as showing up at someone’s house dressed like a utility worker and say they need to “check a problem.” Often, after they gain access they burglarize the home. Residents should always ask to see ID.

When in doubt of suspicious activity, PSE&G customers should call 1-800-436- PSEG (7734) and report scamming activity to their local police department.