Crime & Safety
Scammers Targeting PSE&G Customers, Company Says
Individuals should be wary of someone calling from the "disconnect collection department."
Public Service Electric & Gas is alerting its customers to a scam involving pre-paid debt cards.
A Spanish-speaking individual pretending to be a PSE&G employee will call a customer saying they work for the company’s “disconnect collection department,” the company said in a press release Tuesday. The person tells the customer that they have an overdue balance and their service will be shut off that day unless they pay their balance using a prepaid debit card.
Customers are told to purchase a Green Dot Money Pak card and put a balance on it and provide the cashier with the phone number of the person who called them.
Find out what's happening in Hasbrouck Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After the customer provides PSE&G with the card number, the scammer transfers the funds to a prepaid card and cashes it in at an ATM.
Scammers seem to be targeting customers in Hispanic neighborhoods, the company said.
Find out what's happening in Hasbrouck Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
PSE&G is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the scam.
Customers who doubt the legitimacy of any alleged call from PSE&G should call the utility company at 800-436-7734.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.