Atlantic City Electric is monitoring a coastal storm that is expected to bring severe weather to our area this weekend. Strong winds and heavy rainfall may bring down trees and damage equipment, resulting in power outages for our customers. We are prepared for this event and have enhanced our staffing resources to best respond. Safety is our top priority. We urge customers to stay away from downed wires and other equipment. To report a downed wire, call 800-833-7476. Report and track outages through our mobile app or website at atlanticcityelectric.com/StormPrep.
For Immediate Release
Contact
Frank Tedesco
Frank.Tedesco@pepcoholdings.com
Popular "green dot" scam targeting South Jersey customers resurfaces
MAYS LANDING, NJ (Jan. 16, 2018) – Atlantic City Electric is urging customers to be aware of a scam that has been targeting utility customers across the United States for more than five years. Customers in South Jersey have recently contacted the company to report they have been targeted with the popular "green dot" scam.
The scammers, who target both residential and business customers, call individuals claiming that they are behind on their account and must make an immediate payment to avoid service termination. As part of the scam, customers are asked to purchase a pre-paid debit card, such as a Green Dot MoneyPak, for a specific amount from local pharmacies, retail chains or convenience stores. The customer is then directed to contact a number to use the card to make a payment to their account. Once the information is provided to the scammer, the funds on the card are removed.
During the last five years, scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, going to extreme measures to present themselves as official utility representatives. Scammers have gone so far as to replicate utility phone numbers through caller ID, with some even replicating the messaging and prompts provided to customers through their interactive voice response system.
To help customers ward off these scammers, Atlantic City Electric offers the following tips:
If the caller cannot provide this information, it is likely the call is not coming from Atlantic City Electric. In this case, customers should not provide any information, and call Atlantic City Electric immediately at 1-800-642-3780 to report the situation.
Customers should never provide their social security number or banking or credit card information by phone unless they have initiated the call.
Additionally, customers should never provide anyone access to their home who claims to be from Atlantic City Electric, or a contractor working for Atlantic City Electric, unless the person has proper identification. Customers can always contact the company at 1-800-642-3780 to confirm an official visit.
Readers are encouraged to visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric's online news room. For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visit atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect.
