American Water is advising customers about a nationwide utility bill paying scam. The scam, which has been reported in a number of states, claims that President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills. Customers are asked to provide their social security numbers to apply for the program. The scammers then give customers a phony bank routing number. Customers are told to provide the routing number to pay their utility bills or to receive a credit on their utility bills. If the routing number is entered during an online transaction, it may appear that the customer’s bill has been paid (or that credit has been applied), but no government funds are applied to the customer’s account, and the account balance remains due. According to reports, the scammers are also emailing, texting and using social media to reach customers.
American Water has recorded only one incidence of this scam, but the company wants to provide this information to customers to help them safeguard their personal information.
“We care about our customers and want to protect them from becoming victims of identity theft,” said Vice President of Customer ServiceMeg Neafsey. “American Water customer service representatives do not ask customers to tell them their social security number for any transactions, nor do they ask for a customer’s password. If anyone asks for this information, do not provide it.”
American Water is providing the following tips for customers to help them avoid being scammed:
- American Water does not ask customers to provide a social security number. If someone asks for this information, do not provide it.
- If you are called by American Water’s Customer Service Center, the company name will appear on the caller ID function of your telephone if you have this service. If you have any doubt that you are speaking with an American Water customer service representative, hang up and call your state American Water’s Customer Service number directly.
- Most customers’ meters are located outside, so a company employee should typically not need to gain access to someone’s home to read a meter.
- Service calls to check the quality of drinking water inside a residence are done at the request of the customer, and scheduled in advance by the customer. On rare occasions when this service is initiated by the company, customers should call theCustomer Service Centerto verify the service before allowing access to their home.
- Water company employees will always have official identification with them, and will likely be wearing clothing that bears the official company logo or driving a vehicle with the company logo.
- Company employees do not accept payment during service calls or visits to homes or businesses to turn on or shut off service. TLS/NJAW.
Thats not true NJAW will not display their name only their number on cid, name will display as unavailable
There is an e mail scam that says it’s a Verizon wireless bill which they want you to pay, which is an exorbitant amount, of course. Be careful when you get such e mails, don’t give any personal info and don’t send any money.
I confronted the scam artists, but they insisted that they’re stealing less from me than NJAW is.
throw them out of Lakewood my water bill is larger then all my other utility bills
I received an ESTIMATED USAGE bill from JCPL on Friday.
I checked my meter and it was over 600kw in incorrect estimated usage.
I called today with my reading of Friday’s and based on my reading of the meter, I will receive a new bill showing about $120 less in cost. Even my meter read less today, after 4 days plus, of using the air conditioner.
Read your meter and call them up with your reading, esp if your current reading is less than THEIR ESTIMATED reading.
NJWA bills are a rip off