When adverse weather affects our service area, BGE is prepared. If you experience a power outage or need to report a downed wire, please call 877.778.2222. BGE asks all customers, including those with smart meters, to report their outage. Outages may also be reported online, by texting OUT to MYBGE (69243), and via BGE’s free mobile app available today at the Apple Store or GooglePlay. BGE crews work as safely and quickly as possible to restore power.
For Immediate Release
Contact
Justin Mulcahy
justin.mulcahy@bge.com
Scammers use aggressive tactics to steal money and account information
BALTIMORE (April 14, 2016) – Protect, verify and report! These are words every Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) customer should think about if they receive a call claiming their BGE service will be terminated unless a payment is made by a specific method such as a prepaid, reloadable credit card. Customers should also bear these words in mind if someone approaches your home indicating he or she is a BGE employee. Remember to protect your personal information, take steps to verify the call or visit by contacting BGE yourself and report suspicious incidents to local law enforcement and BGE.
“While there are instances when BGE may need to call customers or come out to their homes or businesses for emergencies, or to inspect, maintain or install equipment, these situations can always be verified by customers by simply calling BGE’s customer service number, 800.685.0123,” said Rob Biagiotti, vice president of customer operations for BGE.
Recently, BGE and the Better Business Bureau serving Greater Maryland have been made aware of several incidents involving individuals going door-to-door, purporting to work for BGE and seeking personal information and account information from customers. In these cases, scammers obtain account information to change their energy provider without their knowledge. These individuals misrepresent themselves by displaying look-a-like BGE badges, logos and vehicles. In another type of scam, customers are pressured over the phone to pay their bill by purchasing a prepaid, reloadable credit card and providing it to an individual wearing a look-a-like BGE uniform and operating a vehicle with a similar BGE logo. Legitimate BGE employees will never ask customers to pay their bill by purchasing these types of prepaid, reloadable credit cards.
The safety of customers and employees is a top priority at BGE and the company encourages customers to take steps to protect their homes, businesses and personal information against utility imposters. Please remember the following tips:
For more information about utility imposters and protecting your information, please view BGE’s utility imposter video.
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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation’s first gas utility, is Maryland’s largest natural gas and electric utility. Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE delivers 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. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.