PRESS RELEASE

June 18, 2020

 

Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond is warning all Delaware County residents of a new fraud scheme occurring in Delaware County.

 

The Sheriff’s Office recently received complaints of robotic calls and messages that inform potential victims that they were overcharged by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). The recording then apologies for this, offers the intended victim 30% off their next billing cycle and prompts the recipient to enter their bank account information so that a refund can be direct deposited into their bank account. The perpetrators of these scams are utilizing caller ID spoofing technology which makes it appear as if the calls are coming from local phone numbers which may even appear to be legitimate NYSEG phone numbers. This readily available technology allows scammers to falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity and lend credibility to their schemes.

 

NYSEG does use automated calls to forewarn its customers of scheduled maintenance which will effect service, or for general information. NYSEG will never ask for information that they already have or for specific bank information via an automated or robotic call. If you receive such a call, please hang up and contact the NYSEG customer service telephone number, (800) 572-1111, or visit the NYSEG website: nyseg.com for more advice.

 

Sheriff DuMond strongly encourages residents to remain vigilant when responding to any unsolicited phone calls, email, text messages or computer pop-up message and watch for red flags that may indicate a scam:

 

  • Use of scare tactics, e.g. threating arrest if you don’t act now, telling you a loved one is in danger, or that your computer or device has been hacked and will be locked if payment is not sent.
  • Requests to verify your name or identity or otherwise asking for sensitive personal information including bank account information, social security number, date of birth or credit card information.
  • Being asked to pay a fee in advance to claim a prize.
  • Pressure to act immediately.
  • Insistence that you immediately wire money, pay via gift cards or send cash.
  • Get–rich–quick and other promises that sound too good to be true.
  • Promises to recover money you’ve lost in other scams, for a fee.