As families prepare for holiday gatherings, shopping, and decorating, PSE&G is reminding customers to protect themselves from scams.
During the holiday season, scammers often impersonate trusted companies — including utilities — using high-pressure tactics to trick customers into making immediate payments or sharing personal information.
“Safety is our top priority, and that includes protecting our customers from fraud,” said Dave Johnson, senior vice president and chief customer officer for PSE&G. “Scammers use convincing tactics — fake caller IDs, urgent threats, and emotional pressure — to push people into paying quickly. If something doesn’t feel right, pause, verify, and call PSE&G directly. A few seconds of caution can save you from falling victim to a scam.”
Scammers frequently:
- Impersonate utility representatives and threaten to disconnect service within an hour if immediate payment isn’t made.
- Demand payment through prepaid debit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or digital payment apps — methods PSE&G does not accept and would not request.
- Spoof caller IDs or email addresses to appear legitimate, sometimes even displaying “PSE&G” on your phone.
- Use emotional manipulation and urgency to pressure customers into paying before verifying.
PSE&G said it will never send a single, last-minute notice before disconnection, demand a specific form of payment or pressure customers with threats. Customers have multiple secure options to pay their bills, including online, via the PSE&G mobile app, by text, phone, mail, or at a customer service center.
How to protect yourself:
- Stop and verify. If you receive a call, text, or email demanding immediate payment, hang up and contact PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).
- Know what PSE&G will and won’t ask. A PSE&G representative will identify themselves, reference your account details, and speak only with the “Customer of Record.” If that person isn’t available, they’ll leave a message asking for a call back — never requesting payment on the spot.
- Be cautious of unusual requests. PSE&G will never ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
- Look for red flags. Poor grammar and suspicious links are red flags.
- Don’t be pressured: PSE&G will never threaten or pressure customers to make immediate payments to avoid service interruption. If you’re struggling to pay your bill, visit pseg.com/help to explore payment assistance programs and flexible payment options.
