Warning About a Scam !

Resident reports scam in Staten Island's Dongan Hills section
by Staten Island Advance
Monday January 26, 2009, 4:55 PM

There appears to be a new scam Staten Islanders need to be wary of.

The perpetrators have been ringing door bells in Dongan Hills during evening hours claiming to be Con Edison workers needing to check electric bills, a resident reported to the office of Councilman James Oddo.

When notified by the politician, Con Edison said its workers check customer bills through computer databases and do not ring bells asking to see them.

Furthermore, employees of the utility do not visit customers at night without an appointment or on an emergency basis.

Con Edison urged customers to ask to see a photo identification card, which all employees carry, or ask for a phone number for the employee's supervisor.

"Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals are out there and we should all be exceedingly wary at all times," Oddo said in a press release. "Take appropriate caution to protect yourself against scammers who are only interested in stealing your money."

Earlier this month, the Advance reported on a band of thieves posing as employees of the city's Department of Environmental Protection who were attempting to talk their way into Staten Island homes.

Those perpetrators told homeowners they needed to check out pipes or collect money for unpaid water bills.