New York State Electric & Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric are alerting customers to a surge in scam activity, cautioning them against sharing personal information with unverified callers or visitors. The companies have observed increasingly aggressive tactics by scammers attempting to deceive customers into making fraudulent payments.
“We urge our customers to proceed with caution if they’re uncertain of the identity of the caller or the visitor at their door,” said Christine Alexander, vice president of Customer Service at NYSEG and RG&E. “We want our customers to protect themselves and the best way to combat these types of scams is to stay alert and informed.”
The utilities emphasize that their employees will never enter a residence to use a computer or take photos of an electric bill. Additionally, they will not visit homes to offer discounts, promote cost-saving programs, or request payments via prepaid debit cards or other non-refundable methods.
Scammers often manipulate caller ID to make their number appear legitimate, and they may provide a fake callback number with a recorded greeting mimicking NYSEG and RG&E’s official customer service lines. Fraudsters also send deceptive emails and text messages or pose as company representatives going door-to-door.
Common scam tactics include:
- Disconnection threats: A caller falsely claims that a customer’s account is past due and demands immediate payment to avoid service shutoff.
- Meter payment schemes: The scammer insists on cash or prepaid card payments for a new meter or an upgrade.
- Payment verification ruse: A caller claims a payment issue occurred due to a system glitch and asks for sensitive banking details.
Customers should take precautionary steps, including verifying the identity of any NYSEG or RG&E representative by calling the companies directly at the numbers listed on their official website or utility bill. Company employees and contractors carry photo IDs with unique employee numbers, which should be checked before providing any information or allowing access to one’s property.
Those who suspect they have been targeted should contact local law enforcement and report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission. NYSEG and RG&E remind customers that they accept a variety of payment methods and do not require prepaid debit card transactions. Enrolling in AutoPay through the company’s website can also help customers avoid payment-related scams.
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