MAYS LANDING N.J. (March 26, 2020) – With New Jersey and the world experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlantic City Electric is reminding customers to always be on alert for potential scams targeting energy customers. Scams occur throughout the year, but the company has seen an increase in scam attempts with scammers using this health crisis to take advantage of energy customers throughout the United States. The company has received reports that scammers are threatening to shut service off, and also are offering cash or credit incentives in order to obtain a customer's personal or financial information.

"It is unfortunate that scammers are using the public's concerns around health and financial uncertainty to deceive and further harm our customers," said Derrick Dickens, senior vice president and Chief Customer Officer for Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric. "We want to provide our customers with tools and information that can help ward off would be scammers and help put a stop to these ongoing scamming attempts."   

In some cases, scammers are duplicating the recorded message that customers hear when calling a legitimate company, so when customers call the number provided by the scammer, it sounds like an actual business. Some scammers also use caller ID "spoofing" to replicate an energy company's phone number. 

Throughout the year, Atlantic City Electric takes steps to raise awareness among its customers, including posting tips to social media, adding alerts on the atlanticcityelectric.com homepage, issuing news releases, and participating annually in Utilities United Against Scams Day in March and November. Any customer who believes he or she has been the target of a scam is urged to contact their local police and call Atlantic City Electric immediately at 800-642-3780 to report the situation.

1. Don't Get Scammed: Customers can avoid being scammed by taking a few precautions. Never provide your social security number or personal information to anyone initiating contact with you claiming to be a company representative or requesting you to send money to another person or entity other than Atlantic City Electric.
2. Always ask to see a company photo ID before allowing any Atlantic City Electric worker into your home or business.
3. Never make a payment for services to anyone coming to your door.

How to protect yourself

• Atlantic City Electric representatives will never ask or require a customer with a past due balance to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
• Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank withdrawal or by mail.
• Customers with a past due balance will receive multiple shut off notifications – never a single notification one hour before disconnection.
• If a customer ever questions the legitimacy of the call, hang up and call Atlantic City Electric at 800-642-3780.
  

It is important to remind customers again of the many energy assistance programs available to help meet their energy needs. Atlantic City Electric offers a number of programs to help customers in New Jersey through temporary or extended financial hardship. Additionally, Atlantic City Electric is suspending service disconnections and waiving new late payment charges at least until May 1 and working with customers on a case-by-case basis to establish payment arrangements and identify energy assistance options. Atlantic City Electric is also working with residents whose service was previously disconnected to have service restored. Those customers should contact the company at 800-642-3780. As part of the reconnection process, Atlantic City Electric Customer Care representatives will work with residents to help identify assistance programs that can supplement bill payment and can help ensure service remains on after this pandemic.

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 the company on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.