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"Recently, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of phone scams being reported," the utility said.
In the latest, a caller pretending to be a PSE&G employee threatens to shut off a customer's service without immediate payment via a pre-paid card, then provides a callback number.
After the victim buys the card and calls, he or she gets voice-response prompts similar to PSE&G's.
A phony representative then answers the line and gets the number.
That money is immediately withdrawn -- gone for good.
It happens "usually within a matter of minutes," PSE&G said.
Don't fall for it, officials said.
"PSE&G alerts customers in a number of ways before terminating service: messages on their bill, letters and phone calls," the statement says. "PSE&G offers a number of payment options, and would never require a customer to use one specific type of payment."
If you receive a call from anyone demanding immediate payment, do not give them any personal or account information.
If you have doubts about the legitimacy of a call, hang up and call PSE&G’s Business Solutions Center at 1-855-249-7734, or 1-800-436-PSEG.
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