HUDSON COUNTY AND BEYOND – Public Service Electric and Gas Company is urging its customers to be alert for a scam that is increasingly targeting small businesses.
Through the ruse, individuals misrepresenting themselves as PSE&G employees threaten to turn off electric and gas service if payment is not made that day with a pre-paid card.
“This is an old scam with a new twist,” said Greg Dunlap, PSE&G vice president of customer operations. “Now some scammers are imitating PSE&G’s interactive voice response system prompt menu, so when customers call them back, they hear something similar to what they would experience if they called PSE&G’s customer service line.”
PSE&G is working with law enforcement to investigate the practice and is also reaching out to contacts at local community service agencies and asking them to spread the word to their clients. Small business customers who have provided their email addresses are being alerted to the scam.
If doubtful about a caller, or if you are suspicious of a call in any way, PSE&G urges customers to call the number listed on their bill: (800) 436-7734.
PSE&G warns customers about phone payment scams
