PSEG Long Island Urges Customers to Know the Telltale Signs of a Scam

If someone calls and threatens to shut off their power immediately, customers should be cautious.

Despite the arrival of spring's milder weather in Long Island and the Rockaways, individuals looking to deceive others are still present, using the identities of PSEG Long Island and other local utilities to request immediate payment. PSEG Long Island is urging customers to be aware of these scammer's methods and to take appropriate action if they receive a request for payment and an imminent disconnection warning: contact the legitimate PSEG Long Island at 1-800-490-0025 to obtain accurate information.

Lou DeBrino, PSEG Long Island’s Vice President of Customer Services, explains that scammers aim to create a sense of urgency to provoke panic and divert attention from their true identity. He advises customers to keep in mind that if anyone threatens to cut off your power, the best course of action is to contact the number on your bill to corroborate the information before taking any action.

There have been over 1,200 fraudulent phone calls reported to PSEG Long Island in 2023. A majority of these scammers are requesting immediate payment through web-based electronic payment services. It is important to note that PSEG Long Island does not accept external, web-based electronic payment services, except for payments made through MyAccount.

What customers should know about payment scams

• Scammers impersonating PSEG Long Island most frequently threaten to shut off power immediately unless payment is made.
• Many scammers use phone “spoofing” technology to make their number display on your phone as “PSEG Long Island.”
• PSEG Long Island will never request that customers use one specific method of payment.
• Scammers typically want their victims to transfer money via a web-based electronic payment service, a prepaid debit card, or even Bitcoin, sometimes asking people to buy a prepaid card at the nearest convenience store and then to read them the PIN over the phone.
• PSEG Long Island does not accept web-based electronic payment services, prepaid debit cards or Bitcoin as payment.
• Sometimes phone scammers will demand a deposit for a priority meter installation. PSEG Long Island does not require a deposit for meter installations.
• If a customer has doubts about the legitimacy of a call or an email — especially one in which payment is requested — they should call the company directly at 1-800-490-0025.

Fraudulent individuals may visit residents in person posing as employees of PSEG Long Island, showing fraudulent credentials, and purporting to be a representative for utility collection. The deceivers may wear "uniforms" or attach fake company logos to their automobiles. They frequently request personal data, which actual utility representatives never request, or propose insincere bargains. To be safe, clients should refrain from allowing such an individual entry and instead contact 1-800-490-0025 to authenticate their identity.

For identification purposes, PSEG Long Island workers have to carry a company ID and produce it upon request. In case anyone has doubts, it is advisable not to allow them into the home and dial 1-800-490-0025 for a customer service representative to verify if an employee had been dispatched to the address. An authentic PSEG Long Island employee will acknowledge the client's decision and wait outside. If the individual persists in trying to gain entry, the homeowner may want to contact 911.

Bogus websites

Fraudulent individuals acquire web domains that bear a close resemblance to the genuine URL of an essential service by copying the authentic site. Their aim is to deceive those who access these fake webpages through search engine results or by entering an incorrect web address. Once inside the mimicked site, a visitor is presented with multiple alternatives for paying bills, all of which redirect to a third-party bill payment site.

PSEG Long Island only employs the “.com” domain and its true website is at www.psegliny.com.

It is important for customers to be aware of how legitimate PSEG Long Island representatives handle phone conversations. When contacting customers, a representative will ask to speak with the Customer of Record, and will disclose the reason for their call along with the account name, address, and current balance. If the individual on the other end of the call cannot provide accurate information, it is probable that they are not speaking with a PSEG Long Island representative.

In case the Customer of Record is absent, the PSEG Long Island representative will refrain from discussing the account and instead request a message to be left for them to contact 1-800-490-0025.

As part of a collaborative effort called Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), PSEG Long Island is one of over 145 American and Canadian utility companies and associations working together to stop scams targeting customers. Through UUAS, utilities have been able to identify and stop nearly 5,000 toll-free phone numbers used by scammers, while also educating the public about new and common scam tactics.

To learn about different payment scams that have been reported in the service area of PSEG Long Island and throughout the nation, please visit https://www.psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/scamsandfraud

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