Don’t Be the Victim of a Payment Scam

In recognition of Consumer Protection Week in March, PSE&G reminds you to be alert to scams – particularly scams demanding immediate bill payment.

Know the signs of potential scam activity:

• Scammers may call and aggressively threaten service disconnection, usually within the hour, if payment is not made on a customer’s past-due energy bill.
  • PSE&G will never call and threaten service disconnection within an hour.
• Scammers may instruct a customer to purchase a prepaid card, a gift card or even Bitcoin, and then instruct them to call back to make a phone payment. When the customer calls back, the scammer asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number or gift-card PIN, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds, and the victim’s money is gone. They may request that the customer use a payment app to make an online payment, or even give instructions for an in-person meeting.
  • PSE&G does not require or accept payment with a prepaid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or through a fund transfer app. PSE&G offers a variety of payment options and would never require one specific type of payment.
• Scammers may arrive at a home or business, flash a fake ID and/or claim to be a utility collection representative. They generally ask for personal information or offer discounts. The impostors may wear “uniforms” or put false company signs on their vehicles.
  • PSE&G representatives will never ask for personal information or offer discounts.

Protect yourself against scams:

• Be sure you’re speaking to a PSE&G representative. A genuine PSE&G 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 person on the phone does not provide the correct information, it is likely the customer is not speaking with a PSE&G representative.
• If the “Customer of Record” is not available, the PSE&G representative will not discuss the account and will ask that a message be left for the customer to call 1-800-357-2262.
• Be alert to the telltale sign of a scam: someone asking by telephone or email for payment through a pre-paid debit card or fund transfer app, or to send money to an out-of-state address.
• Never arrange payment or provide account or personal information, including Social Security numbers or debit/credit card information, over the telephone unless you are certain you are speaking to a PSE&G representative.
• If you have doubts about the legitimacy of a call or an email — especially one in which payment is requested — call PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).

For more information, visit pseg.com/scamalert.

Unsubscribe