O&R Warns of Power Scams

Orange & Rockland, the utility that serves about 11,000 customers in Mahwah and has received a lot of attention since Hurricane Sandy for prolonged power outages throughout the township, is warning customers to beware scammers pretending ot be representatives of O&R.

The company issued an advisory on its website last week saying representatives never call customers asking for personal information, and any such calls received should be considered suspicious.

“For your protection, if someone calls you claiming to be a representative of Orange & Rockland, Rockland Electric, or Pike County Light & Power Co., beware,” the advisory said. “O&R does not call customers to ask them to provide their account information, mailing address, driver’s license number or Social Security number.”

Though O&R representatives will occasionally knock on doors, the release said to be wary of any workers who knock on your door, too.

From the release:

If someone knocks on your door as an employee or contractor of Orange & Rockland, Rockland Electric Company or Pike County Light & Power Co., ask that person to produce an identification card. All our employees and contractors wear I.D. cards bearing the company name and logo, and the employee's or contractor's color photograph.

If the person cannot produce an I.D. card, refuse admittance, terminate further contact and call the police immediately. If the person at your door produces an I.D. card and you're still apprehensive, call us at 1-877-434-4100 and ask to speak to someone in Security Services.

We will be glad to confirm the identity of any O&R employee or contractor.

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