PSEG Long Island Reminds Customers: Scammers Don't Have an Offseason

Rhea-AI Summary

PSEG Long Island (NYSE:PEG) warns customers about utility impostor scams that threaten immediate shutoffs, demand instant payments, or ask for prepaid cards, Bitcoin, or web-based payments. Customers should stop and verify by checking their account or calling 1-800-490-0025 and never provide PINs or PII.

The company notes spoofed caller IDs, fake IDs, fraudulent websites, and QR-code stickers on EV chargers; genuine reps will ask for the Customer of Record and present company ID.

Key Figures

Customer service phone: 1-800-490-0025 Scam phone numbers removed: 14,830 toll-free numbers

2 metrics

Customer service phone 1-800-490-0025 Number PSEG Long Island customers should call to verify suspected scams

Scam phone numbers removed 14,830 toll-free numbers Utilities United Against Scams-reported numbers taken out of operation

Market Reality Check

Price: $81.07 Vol: Volume 4,802,132 is about...

normal vol

$81.07 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,802,132 is about 1.5x the 20-day average of 3,206,388, showing elevated interest ahead of/around this consumer-focused update. normal

Technical Shares at $80.19 are trading below the 200-day MA of $82.47 and about 12.13% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

PEG gained 0.46% while key regulated electric peers like XEL, ETR, EXC, WEC and ...

PEG gained 0.46% while key regulated electric peers like XEL, ETR, EXC, WEC and ED also rose between 0.49% and 1.69%. The internal momentum scanner did not flag a coordinated sector move, suggesting this modest uptick sits within broader utility strength but is not a distinct momentum event.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 17	Regulatory decision	Positive	-0.6%	FERC rejected PJM settlement, implying about $100M in refunds and future savings.
Mar 17	ESG recognition	Positive	-0.2%	Multiple national awards for responsibility and corporate citizenship in 2026.
Feb 26	Earnings results	Positive	-0.1%	Reported strong 2025 earnings and raised 2026 guidance and capex plans.
Feb 26	Dividend increase	Positive	-0.1%	Announced Q1 2026 dividend, lifting annual rate by about 6% year over year.
Feb 03	Earnings date set	Neutral	+1.6%	Scheduled Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings call and webcast details.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive or shareholder-friendly news (regulatory wins, earnings, dividend increases, ESG recognition) often saw mildly negative next-day moves, indicating a tendency for the stock to soften after good headlines.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, PEG has reported solid fundamentals and shareholder-friendly actions. On Feb 26, it announced 2025 net income of $2,111 million, non‑GAAP earnings of $2,029 million, and raised its 2026 dividend to $2.68 per share, yet the stock slipped slightly. The same day, a dividend increase and later a FERC decision implying about $100 million in customer refunds also saw small negative reactions. Against that backdrop, today’s scam-awareness notice is operational and consumer-focused rather than a major financial catalyst.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement centers on scam awareness, outlining how PSEG Long Island customers can verify con...

Analysis

This announcement centers on scam awareness, outlining how PSEG Long Island customers can verify contacts, avoid fraudulent payment methods, and recognize fake websites or QR codes. It does not introduce new financial guidance or capital plans. In recent months, PEG’s key catalysts have instead been earnings, dividend increases, and regulatory outcomes. Investors following this news might watch for future updates that tie customer-protection initiatives to reliability, regulatory relationships, or cost recovery, alongside PEG’s ongoing earnings and rate-base growth trajectory.

Key Terms

spoofing, bitcoin, qr code, personally identifiable information (pii)

4 terms

spoofing technical

"Many scammers use phone "spoofing" technology to make their number display..."

Placing fake buy or sell orders with the intent to trick other market participants and then canceling them before execution; the goal is to create a false impression of demand or supply and move a security’s price. Think of it like pretending to bid at a yard sale to make an item seem more desirable, then backing out — it can mislead investors, distort prices and trading volume, and lead to regulatory enforcement and financial losses.

bitcoin financial

"transfer money via a web-based electronic payment service, a prepaid debit card, or even Bitcoin..."

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency and asset that exists only online, created and recorded through a public digital record maintained by many computers worldwide—think of it as a shared spreadsheet that no single person controls. Investors care because it behaves like a high-risk, high-reward store of value and speculative commodity: its supply is limited, its price can swing sharply, and owning it can change a portfolio’s risk, diversification and exposure to market sentiment.

qr code technical

"scammers have been placing fraudulent QR code stickers on publicly available electric vehicle..."

A QR code is a square, two‑dimensional barcode that stores information such as a website link, payment details, or product data and can be read instantly by a smartphone camera. For investors it matters because companies use QR codes to drive customer engagement, speed payments, track inventory, or provide instant access to reports and disclosures—similar to a digital shortcut that connects physical items or ads directly to online actions that can affect sales, costs, and transparency.

personally identifiable information (pii) technical

"websites that ask for personal identifiable information (PII) and/or credit card information."

Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that can uniquely identify or contact an individual, such as a name paired with a home address, national ID number, email, phone number, financial account details, or biometric data. Investors care because mishandling or losing PII can trigger legal fines, costly remediation, loss of customer trust and sales, and damage to a company’s stock value—similar to how losing the keys to a house exposes the owner to theft and expensive repairs.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

If someone calls or visits, threatening to immediately shut off the power, it's likely fraudulent

UNIONDALE, N.Y., March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's a crisp fall, a frigid winter, a mild spring or a sweltering summer, scammers are always turning up the heat, impersonating utility workers via phone and sometimes in person to demand payments from their victims. PSEG Long Island urges customers to take the right steps if confronted with a surprise visit or call threatening imminent shutoff: Stop and verify before acting. Reach out to PSEG Long Island for confirmation.

"PSEG Long Island wants customers to remember one simple thing: Stop and verify first. If someone threatens to immediately shut off your power, check your account online or call the number that's printed on your bill to double check before giving them any money," said Lou DeBrino, PSEG Long Island's vice president of Customer Operations. "It may be an advanced digital scam, an in-person scammer or a telephone call, but nearly all scammers present an urgent problem in the hopes that their victims panic and miss all the clues that they're not who they appear to be. If you are unexpectedly contacted by someone claiming to be from PSEG Long Island and threatening to immediately shut off your power without payment, take a step back. Contact PSEG Long Island independently and verify before acting."

Many utility scammers demand immediate payment via web-based electronic payment services. PSEG Long Island does not accept external, web-based electronic payment services (outside of payments through My Account) as a method of payment.

What customers should know about payment scams

• Scammers impersonating PSEG Long Island most frequently threaten to shut off power immediately unless payment is made.
• Many scammers use phone "spoofing" technology to make their number display on your phone as "PSEG Long Island."
• PSEG Long Island will never request that customers use one specific method of payment.
• Scammers typically want their victims to transfer money via a web-based electronic payment service, a prepaid debit card, or even Bitcoin, sometimes asking people to buy a prepaid card at the nearest convenience store and then read them the PIN over the phone.
• PSEG Long Island does not accept web-based electronic payment services, prepaid debit cards or Bitcoin as payment.
• Sometimes phone scammers will demand a deposit for a priority meter installation. PSEG Long Island does not require a deposit for meter installations.
• If a customer has doubts about the legitimacy of a call or an email — especially one in which payment is requested — they should call the company directly at 1-800-490-0025.

In-person visits
Occasionally, scammers may go door to door impersonating PSEG Long Island employees, flashing a fake ID and/or claiming to be a utility collection representative. The impostors may wear "uniforms" or affix false company signs to their vehicles. The scammers generally ask for personal information, which real utility representatives do not do, or offer bogus discounts. Again, if customers have any doubts, they should not let the person in, and should call 1-800-490-0025 to verify.

PSEG Long Island employees must carry a company ID and present it when requested. If customers have doubts, they should not let the person into the house. PSEG Long Island employees are trained not to escalate the situation. If the person escalates their efforts to enter the home, customers should consider calling 911.

Fake websites
Some scammers purchase web domains that closely resemble the actual URL of a utility and create a fraudulent replica of the legitimate website. Their plan is to dupe users who click on these fake sites via search results, or type in an inaccurate web address. Once on the spoofed site, a visitor is presented a number of bill payment options, all pointing back to an outside bill pay site.

PSEG Long Island always uses the ".com" domain. Its real website can be found at psegliny.com.

New: Public vehicle charger scams
Recently, scammers have been placing fraudulent QR code stickers on publicly available electric vehicle charging stations. These stickers contain branding that makes them appear to be a legitimate way of activating the charger, directing customers to websites that ask for personal identifiable information (PII) and/or credit card information.

In some cases, these stickers may contain fraudulent branding from local electric utilities. PSEG Long Island does not currently offer any programs that require customers to interface with its website in order to activate a public vehicle charging station.

How actual PSEG Long Island reps handle phone calls
Customers should also know what PSEG Long Island will and won't discuss over the phone. A genuine PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the Customer of Record. If that person is available, the representative will explain why they are calling and provide the account name, address and current balance. If the person on the phone does not provide the correct information, it is likely the customer is not speaking with a PSEG Long Island representative.

If the Customer of Record is not available, the PSEG Long Island representative will not discuss the account at all and ask that a message be left for the Customer of Record to call 1-800-490-0025.

PSEG Long Island is a member of Utilities United Against Scams, which continues to raise customer awareness of common scams and new scam tactics used by utility impostors. Through its work and with the help of customer reporting, UUAS has successfully helped to take more than 14,830 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers out of operation.

For more information on various payment scams reported in the PSEG Long Island service area and around the country, visit psegliny.com/myaccount/customersupport/scamsandfraud.

PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority's transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.

Visit PSEG Long Island at:
psegliny.com
PSEG Long Island on Facebook
PSEG Long Island on Instagram
PSEG Long Island on X (formerly Twitter)
PSEG Long Island on LinkedIn
PSEG Long Island on YouTube
PSEG Long Island on Flickr

Contact: Media Relations Pager
516.229.7248
mediarelationsLI@psegliny.com

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SOURCE PSEG Long Island

FAQ

How should PEG customers respond to a call threatening immediate shutoff?

Stop and verify before acting; check your account or call 1-800-490-0025. According to PSEG Long Island, customers should confirm using the phone number on their bill or My Account and refuse on-the-spot payments or PIN requests from callers.

Does PSEG Long Island accept payment via prepaid cards, Bitcoin, or external web pay sites?

No, PSEG Long Island does not accept prepaid cards, Bitcoin, or external web-based payment services. According to PSEG Long Island, payments must be made through My Account or the methods listed on the company's official psegliny.com site.

What should a PEG customer do if someone visits the home claiming to be a utility rep?

Do not let the person in and call 1-800-490-0025 to verify their identity. According to PSEG Long Island, employees carry company ID and will not request sensitive personal information or force entry; consider calling 911 if threatened.

How can PEG customers spot fake PSEG Long Island websites or QR codes at EV chargers?

Verify the domain and avoid unfamiliar links or stickers; PSEG Long Island uses psegliny.com. According to PSEG Long Island, scammers use lookalike domains and fraudulent QR stickers that request PII or payment, so customers should access accounts directly via the official site.

Will a genuine PSEG Long Island representative discuss account details with someone other than the Customer of Record?

No, a real representative will speak only to the Customer of Record or leave a message. According to PSEG Long Island, if the Customer of Record is unavailable, reps will not discuss account specifics and will request that the customer call 1-800-490-0025.

What payment or verification steps does PSEG Long Island recommend after a suspicious contact?

Stop any transaction, do not share PINs, and verify by calling 1-800-490-0025 or checking My Account. According to PSEG Long Island, customers should report impostors, avoid outside payment services, and confirm any requests through official channels before paying.