Rochester, New York — NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of Iberdrola USA, are warning customers about callers who say they represent NYSEG or RG&E and are calling about billing matters. Some customers have been contacted and warned that to avoid having their service shut off they should purchase a "Green Dot MoneyPak Card" and contact the caller with the card information.
"We have repeatedly warned our customers about this scam and in most cases they become suspicious very quickly when someone attempts to take advantage of them," said Mark S. Lynch, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. "We urge our customers to never let their guard down."
NYSEG and RG&E offer these tips to keep account information secure:
NYSEG and RG&E will never ask a customer to purchase a debit card to make a payment.
Customers who need to make an urgent payment should do so by calling NYSEG directly at 1.800.600.2275 or RG&E directly at 1.800.743.2110 to ensure that their account is properly credited.
Customers who have any questions about a call they have received for an overdue payment are likewise urged to contact NYSEG at 1.800.572.1111 or RG&E at 1.800.743.2110.
If customers believe they have been scammed, they should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov/) and their local police.