Utility Scammers Adding Stratagems, Spreading Across New York

A predatory scam that has been plaguing Rockland and Orange county residents for months is now prevalent around the state, according to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection. And the crooks are more aggressive than ever.

The scheme goes this way: Crooks call unsuspecting customers claiming to represent an electric, gas or water company – whether the consumer is a customer of theirs or not - ask for consumer information, including account numbers, social security numbers, and dates of birth, and request payment for alleged past-due bills.

The scammers also send texts and emails seeking the same information and, in some instances, have visited targets’ homes.

The scam has now begun victimizing communities where English is less prevalent, with callers speaking in the target’s native language, including Spanish and Chinese, officials said.

“Scammers are now targeting vulnerable and limited English-speaking communities that may not be aware of these nefarious tactics,” said New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection.

In April, an employee of O&R prevented a Rockland County resident from falling victim to a con artist. She overheard a man in a pharmacy on the phone with a crook who was telling him he must pay $500 for his smart meter installation with a prepaid debit card immediately or his electric service would be shut off.

Common Scams and Frauds offers these resources and tips:

Do

• Register your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry. Calls after you're on it are likely scams.
• Be wary of callers claiming that you've won a prize or vacation package.
• Hang up on suspicious phone calls.
• Be cautious of caller ID. Scammers can change the phone number that shows up on your caller ID screen. This is called "spoofing."
• Research business opportunities, charities, or travel packages separately from the information the caller has provided.

Don't

• Don't give in to pressure to take immediate action.
• Don't say anything if a caller starts the call asking, "Can you hear me?" This is a common tactic for scammers to record you saying "yes." Scammers record your "yes" response to use as proof that you agreed to a purchase or credit card charge.
• Don't provide your credit card number, bank account information, or other personal information to a caller.
• Don't send money if the caller tells you to wire money or pay with a prepaid debit card.

Always

• Report telephone scams to the Federal Trade Commission, either online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. This is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints.
• Report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry.
• Report caller ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission either online or by phone at 1-888-225-5322.

Consumers can also file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection, which investigates Do Not Call violations. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via @NYSConsumer or www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

SEE ALSO: Phone Scammers Mount End-Of Season Push: O&R