If someone calls or visits with a threat to immediately shut off your power, it is likely a scam.
/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Whether it’s a crisp fall, a frigid winter, a mild spring or a sweltering summer, scammers are always on the prowl. These criminals pose as utility workers over the phone and sometimes in person in order to demand payments from their victims. PSEG Long Island encourages its customers to take the appropriate steps if they receive an unexpected visit or call threatening an imminent outage of service: stop and verify the situation before acting. Contact PSEG Long Island to confirm.
Robert Vessichelli, senior investigator for PSEG Long Island Corporate Security, educates Huntington seniors about common utility scams in February 2025. (PRNewsfoto/PSEG Long Island)
“PSEG Long Island wants customers to remember one simple thing: Stop and check first. If someone threatens to shut off your electric service immediately, check your account online or call the number printed on your bill to double-check before handing over money,” said Lou DeBrino, Vice President of Customer Service Operations for PSEG Long Island. “It could be an advanced digital scam, an in-person scammer, or a phone call, but almost all scammers present an urgent problem in the hopes that their victims will panic and ignore all the signs that they are not who they appear to be. If someone claiming to be from PSEG Long Island contacts you unexpectedly and threatens to immediately shut off your electric service if you don’t make a payment, please take a moment. Contact PSEG Long Island directly and verify the information before act.”
Many utility scammers demand immediate payment using online electronic payment services. PSEG Long Island does not accept third-party online electronic payment services (other than My Account payments) as a payment method.
What customers should know about payment scams
- Scammers impersonating PSEG Long Island most often threaten to immediately shut off your power unless payment is issued.
- Many scammers use spoofing technology or have the number they are calling from appear on the customer’s phone as “PSEG Long Island.”
- PSEG Long Island will never ask customers to use a specific payment method.
- Typically, scammers want their victims to transfer money using an online electronic payment service, a prepaid debit card, or even Bitcoin. Sometimes they ask people to buy a prepaid card at their nearest store and then read their PIN over the phone.
- PSEG Long Island does not accept online electronic payment services, prepaid debit cards, or Bitcoin as payment methods.
- Sometimes telephone scammers demand a deposit for the installation of a priority meter. PSEG Long Island does not require deposits for the installation of meters.
- If a customer has concerns about the legitimacy of a call or email—especially when payment is requested—they should call the company directly at 1-800-490-0025.
Personal visits
In some cases, scammers may go door-to-door posing as PSEG Long Island employees, showing fake identification, or claiming to be a utility collection representative. Impostors may wear “uniforms” or post fake company signs on their vehicles. Scammers typically ask for personal information, which real utility representatives don’t do, or offer false discounts. We insist that if customers have any questions, they should not let the person into their homes and should call 1-800-490-0025 to verify.
PSEG Long Island employees must carry company identification and show it when requested. If clients have concerns, they should not let the person into their homes. PSEG Long Island employees are trained not to escalate the situation. If the person insists on their intentions to enter the home, clients should consider calling 911.
Fake websites
Some scammers purchase web domains very similar to a utility company’s real URLs and create a fraudulent replica of the legitimate website. Their plan is to trick users who click on these fake sites via search results or enter an inaccurate web address. Once on the fake site, the user is presented with a series of bill payment options, through which they are then redirected to an external payment site.
PSEG Long Island always uses the “.com” domain. Their real website can be found at psegliny.com.
New: Scams related to public vehicle chargers
Lately, scammers have been placing QR code stickers on publicly available electric vehicle charging stations. These stickers contain branding that makes them look like a legitimate way to activate the charger, and direct the customer to websites that ask for personally identifiable information (PII) or credit card information.
In some cases, these stickers may contain fake local electrical company markings. PSEG Long Island does not currently offer any programs that require the customer to interact with their website to activate a public vehicle charging station.
How a Real PSEG Long Island Representative Handles Phone Calls
Customers should also know which topics PSEG Long Island will discuss over the phone and which it will not. An authentic PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the registered customer. If that person is available, the representative will explain the reason for calling and provide the account name, address, and balance. If the person the customer is speaking to is not providing correct information, there is a good chance they are not a PSEG Long Island representative.
If the registered customer is not available, the PSEG Long Island representative will not mention any account details and will ask to leave a message for the registered customer to call 1-800-490-0025.
PSEG Long Island is a member of Utilities United Against Scams, which promotes customer awareness of common scams and new scam tactics used by utility imposters. Through its work and with the support of customer reports, UUAS has successfully helped disable more than 14,830 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers.
For more information on the various payment scams reported in the PSEG Long Island service area and nationwide, visit psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/scamsandfraud.
PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island es una filial de Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.
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