Scammers posing as PPL workers

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.comStaff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – A PPL Utilities spokesperson warned customers not to fall victim to a popular scam, a day after a family in the Heights section was approached by three people they suspected of posing as PPL employees.

Mary Ruth said three people wearing baggy clothes were going door-to-door on North Empire Street identifying themselves as PPL employees, asking to see their electric bill for a chance of a rebate.

“They were saying, ‘I’m here to give you a rebate, all we need to see is your last bill,’ ” Ruth said. “No names were offered, they didn’t have name tags. All they asked was to look at the bill.”

Rich Beasley, a PPL spokesman, said the utility company does not visit customers’ homes without prior notification.

“We don’t do door-to-door sales or solicitations,” Beasley said. “It’s rare to actually enter somebody’s home at all. When we do, we make an appointment.

“If the customer has any doubt, we ask them to always check the person’s photo identification card. All of our employees carry photo identification cards,” Beasley noted.

Ruth said a female family member was sitting on a porch when she was approached by one of the three men. Ruth said she got up to go into the house to retrieve a PPL bill when a male family member suspected something was wrong.

“When they heard her talking to a man, they immediately asked if it was her husband,” Ruth said. “They left and went across the street and were shut out. They went to two or three other houses and left.”

Beasley said it is common for imposters to use PPL in an attempt to access a house or to distract a homeowner at the front door while another person enters through another door.

“Some of the things they say is ‘there is an electrical emergency in the neighborhood and we need to check your wiring.’ We don’t check household wiring,” Beasley said. “Or they show up with a piece of paper and want to discuss your bill. We do that over the phone. When in doubt, call us to verify that the person is a PPL employee.”