PSEG LI warns of uptick in phone scams

PSEG Long Island is warning of an increase in sophisticated scams targeting its customers.

Linda Fiveson, the owner of Long Island Wight Counseling in Syosset, says she panicked when she received a call from a person claiming to be a PSEG representative.

She says she was worried the food she prepares and sells for her clients would be ruined if her power was cut off.

Fiveson tells News 12 says the person on the phone gave her bizarre instructions to buy a prepaid gift card to make a payment. She says that's when she realized it was a scam.

PSEG says that these scams target businesses, and that the scam has been going on since 2013. It says there have been approximately 1,000 scam calls this year.

Robert Vessichelli, a corporate investigator for PSEG Long Island, tells News 12 that the scammers often use a technique called "caller ID spoofing" to make it look like the scam call is actually coming from PSEG.

PSEG Long Island also says customers have to be wary of emails that appear to be from the utility asking for personal information.