CHILI, N.Y. — An alert Chili resident stopped a utility scam and hopes his story will help others avoid similar trouble.
Threat to cut off power
Sam Montante said he realized something was wrong when a caller claiming to be from RG&E threatened to turn off his gas and electric.
“They told me we’re going to turn off your gas and electric,” Montante said. “So I said why? They said you didn’t pay your bill. I said I did,” Montante said.
Montante and his wife Aleta were prepared with their checkbook and bills, and when the caller could not answer their questions, the call ended.
The dial tone
“No, all of a sudden it went silent and I got a dial tone,” Montante said.
RG&E has a page listing scams and frauds, calling this the disconnection threat. The shut off scam is the most common kind of utility fraud, with most victims losing $500 to $600. According to the Better Business Bureau, the fraud nets more than $230 million every year.
“If they have an accent, be alert, check your records and tell them I made the payment,” Montante said.
RG&E recommends calling their customer service line if you ever face a similar situation.
News10NBC obtained this story through an interview at Montante’s home.
The post Consumer Alert: A Chili viewer stopped an utility scam before the caller got a payment appeared first on WHEC.com.
