PECO Warns of Utility Scam
President Obama is not providing funding to help pay your electric or gas bill.
A scam intended to deceive people into providing their social security numbers, banking details, and other personal information by misleading them to believe that the government will help pay their utility bills has appeared in the greater Philadelphia region, PECO said last week.
The scam, which has been reportedly taking place through social media such as Facebook, text messages, telephone, and U.S. Mail, claims that United States President Barack Obama is providing funding to help customers pay their utility bills.
“We want to make our customers aware of this scam and any potential issues so they can protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft and other fraudulent activities,” said Mark Alden, PECO vice president of Customer Operations.
PECO offers these tips to help customers avoid falling for the scam:
- Never provide your social security number, or banking or credit card information over the phone, unless you have initiated the call.
- If you receive a call allegedly from PECO and are pressured for immediate payment or for personal information, hang up and call PECO directly at 1-800-494-4000.
- Never provide anyone access to your home who claims to be from PECO, or a contractor working for PECO, unless the visit has been scheduled and the person has proper identification. Customers can always contact the company at 1-800-494-4000 to confirm an official visit.
PECO customers who have been contacted regarding this scam are asked to call PECO immediately at 1-800-494-4000 to report the incident. PECO’s Security Group will work with local authorities to investigate the incident.
SMYRNA-X
8:20 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
I wonder why people would think obama will pay for thier electric bills? He's already paying for thier food, rent, transportation, cellphones and education. Its unconsionable he wont pay electric bill too!
I Vote
11:35 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
My thoughts exactly. Folks have traded their constitutional freedoms and the financial footing of the country for the false promise that Mr. Obama will take care of everything, forgetting that believing in fairytales at the expense of reality.has an untenable price.
Stephen Eickhoff
1:07 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI
Ginny2shoes
11:57 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
Why isn't Obama paying for electric, what about the poor people? Isn't everyone entitled to electric??? Doesn't he care about the 99%, WAAA, WAAAA.
Just think of all the votes he could get if "he" just pays for it, yeah that's the ticket, just use our tax money for that & he can reap the benefits, anything to get him elected again !!! People who use electric is a HUGE group he can pander to : )
Stephen Eickhoff
1:10 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I have an excellent idea that would be sure to get Obama reelected. First of all, everyone must get an electrical hookup, even if they are in Appalachia and 80 miles away from power lines. I'm sure the power companies can pick up the tab and pass it on to their customers. Next, everyone must have smart meters installed to make sure we're using our power wisely, solar panels or wind generators must be installed, and everyone must have an energy audit twice a year to make sure their houses are properly insulated and ventilated. Finally, if you're using a little "too much" power (e.g., as much as Al Gore), then you pay a "Cadillac plan" tax to atone for your excesses.
Stephen Eickhoff
1:11 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
If you don't like it, you can always get a union job and lobby for a waiver.
Jeanette Hayworth
11:22 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
Though I have never personally heard of anyone falling for this scam, such scams are gradually becoming more and more common. Reason being, the internet and the popularity of social media has helped many scammers reach more people. People are becoming more trusting of unknown sources online, and this has led to more and more people becoming cheated online. - http://www.lyonessscamreview.com/