O&R: CUSTOMERS BEWARE BILL PAYMENT SCAMS

PEARL RIVER, NY July `14, 2014 — O&R today warned the public about a rash of phony-bill payment schemes in which imposters pose as utility company representatives and call customers, demanding immediate payment for what they fraudulently claim are delinquent electric and gas bills.

Unsuspecting utility customers across the nation, most recently in O&R’s service territory, have been bilked by these bogus claims which insist on payment the day of the contact.

These scammers pose as utility company employees and call customers saying their service will be disconnected if they do not make an immediate payment using a prepaid debit card or even a credit card.

O&R urges anyone who is contacted in this fashion to break off contact with the crooks and call O&R Customer Service at 1-877-434-4100.

If you are contacted by someone who says they represent O&R and you wish to verify their identity, either ask for their photo ID card, if they are at the door, or call O&R at 1-877-434-4100 to verify their identity and the nature of their business with you. O&R employees are trained to cooperate with this request and are happy to comply with an identity verification request.

Remember, when in doubt, hang up the phone or break off contact, and call O&R at 1-877-434-4100 to verify that the person you are dealing with is an O&R employee conducting legitimate business.