Business & Tech
SUEZ Warns Hudson Valley Customers About Active Scam
Has anyone shown up at your door saying they're collecting for an unpaid water bill?
PEARL RIVER, NY — SUEZ has issued an alert to warn customers in Rockland and Westchester counties about scammers who are going door-to-door requesting cash or credit card payments for water bills.
The fraud involves a person claiming that they are in the neighborhood collecting unpaid bills. They show customers fake SUEZ identification badges and offer to scan the customer’s credit card on a portable card reader.
They may even entice customers with an "offer" to forgive a portion of their balance if the customer makes an immediate payment.
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The company has reported this illegal activity to law enforcement. If you suspect an imposter, call 911.
If you are unsure if the person on the other side of the door is actually from your water utility, call the company to verify. SUEZ Customer Service representatives can be reached at 877-426-8969 in Rockland or 877-266-9101 in Westchester.
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Also, look closely.
Scrutinize photo identification badges. The real badges display the SUEZ name and logo, the employee’s name, employee number, job title and the date the badge was issued to that individual. SUEZ employees always wear uniforms too.
Customers should also look for white SUEZ vehicles, which prominently feature the company’s bright green logo and dark blue lettering.
What you can be sure of: SUEZ employees do not go to customer homes to demand or collect payments. Employees in the field will never take any type of payment from a customer.
In fact, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the only time a SUEZ employee would knock on your door right now would be for a water-related emergency or a previously arranged appointment concerning your water service.
“It is unfortunate that people are taking advantage of others during these challenging times," said Chris Graziano, Vice President and General Manager, SUEZ New York Operations. “We want to raise awareness among our customers about this scam. We encourage customers to contact us if they have any concerns.”
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