Con Edison warns customers of smart meter scam

Con Edison issued a warning to its customers last week regarding a scam in which a caller says the company will shut off power unless the customer immediately pays a deposit for a smart meter.

The scam, Con Edison said, typically targets business customers. The scammers often request payment by bitcoin.

Con Edison emphasized that it does not require deposits for smart meters and does not accept payment by bitcoin.

“This is a new one,” James Duggan, a section manager in Con Edison’s Corporate Security department, said. “It shows once again that scammers are always looking for new ways to take advantage of our customers. Information and awareness are the best tools our customers have to protect themselves.”

The scammer typically calls businesses that cannot afford to lose power and tells them that Con Edison personnel are on their way to install a smart meter and will need to turn off their power for two hours.

When the customer tells the scammer the business had no advance notice, the scammer emails or faxes them fake documentation that claims Con Edison had an appointment and that the customer owes a refundable deposit.

The scammer then offers to postpone the installation until a convenient time if the customer pays the deposit immediately. The scammer then tells the customer that bitcoin is the best way to pay and directs the customer to a location to make the payment. The scammer might even then send the customer a fake receipt.

Twenty-seven customers have reported being targeted by the scam, 12 of whom made payments and lost money.