BGE Cautions Customers against Bill Payment Scams and Utility Imposters

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BGE does not ask customers to pay bills using gift cards

BALTIMORE (August 6, 2015) – Customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) are urged to verify the identity of anyone calling regarding their account, in particular calls regarding payment. Customers should also be familiar with BGE’s payment options – the company will never ask customers to pay their BGE bills using a gift card. There are periodically scams involving criminals who masquerade as BGE employees on the phone in order to steal personal financial information. This telephone scam is often referred to as the "Green Dot" Visa credit card scam as criminals request the "Green Dot" card in many instances. In some cases, the scam even incorporates a phone number for customers to call and a fake BGE voice recording. BGE stresses that legitimate employees will never ask customers to pay their bill by purchasing a cash gift card.

BGE asks customers to take the following steps to protect their personal information:

If you receive a call claiming that your BGE service will be terminated unless you make a payment by purchasing a cash gift card, hang up immediately, contact local law enforcement and then report the incident to BGE by calling 800.685.0123.
Do NOT provide any personal information to the caller; do NOT purchase a gift card.
If someone states he or she is a BGE employee and asks to enter your home or business, ask for their employee information. If you are approached in person, ask to see photo identification, which should display the BGE logo, a name, photograph and identification number. Call BGE at1.800.685.0123 and a representative can verify the employee and the nature of the visit or phone call.

Take note of BGE’s official methods of payment. Customers can pay their bills by calling the BGE customer contact center at 800.685.0123, online at bge.com, by mail and at authorized America’s Cash Express and Global Express locations. Customers can visit bge.com to learn more about payment options.

"There are times when we legitimately call customers, or when we need to enter homes in response to emergencies, to check or install BGE equipment, read meters, or to start or stop service. These calls or visits can always be verified," said Steve Woerner, BGE president and chief operating officer. "If you are ever even slightly concerned about contact from BGE, please call us immediately at 800.685.0123. This number can be found on your bill, or on the BGE website, bge.com. The safety of our customers is of the utmost importance, our representatives will be happy to verify information and answer all your questions."

For more information about utility imposters and protecting your information, please visit the Safety and Reliability section on bge.com

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BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest natural gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2014 revenues of approximately $27.4 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.