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Old 08-06-2014, 06:21 AM
 
3 posts, read 4,972 times
Reputation: 15

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Hello! Just a friendly warning to those in DC suburbs in Maryland. I live in Silver Spring in the neighborhood referred to as glenmont village. Yesterday a young man came to my door claiming to be from pepco, saying he was going door to door in the neighborhood and "explaining something that happened with all our bills", I am new to the neighborhood and have no pepco bill as of yet, I told him that and he said oh okay, well we'll come back. Something didn't feel right about the situation and he didn't have a name tag or uniform, nor did he offer me a business card, clipboard and pen to record the information he might be seeking were also absent. After he left I called pepco and they let me know they do not send people door to door and that alerting the authorities would be a good idea. I did call the montgomery county police and told them the situation. I then googled and found that this has been an ongoing scam mostly in DC and most recently in Columbia. Some people even gave these men entry into their homes and money! Smh!!! I am slightly worried about possible break ins or information theft from these scammers, so if you're in this neighborhood or nearby please beware! Look out for your neighbors as well!

Have a great week everyone!

Last edited by DN2015; 08-06-2014 at 06:36 AM..
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Old 08-06-2014, 08:16 AM
 
13,648 posts, read 20,773,460 times
Reputation: 7650
Did you call PEPCO or inform the Police?
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:03 AM
 
3 posts, read 4,972 times
Reputation: 15
I did! The police decided that someone should come out to the neighborhood and look for the guy. I gave a very detailed description, hopefully all will be well.
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Old 08-06-2014, 02:58 PM
 
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To my knowledge, PEPCO does not serve Columbia, MD. That's BG&E territory. It might serve this criminal well to know which utility covers the area he's perpertrating his crimes. I'm quite sure someone would know right off if a PEPCO guy showed up at the door that there's something criminal going on. At least let's hope they would.
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Old 08-06-2014, 03:10 PM
 
772 posts, read 1,142,364 times
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Energy companies don't usually "read the meter" any more. Be very careful about whom you open your door to.
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Old 08-07-2014, 08:38 AM
 
3 posts, read 4,972 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itinérant View Post
Energy companies don't usually "read the meter" any more. Be very careful about whom you open your door to.
Yeah I know! I was expecting a visitor so I didn't even think and went to the door. Kinda crazy how that works out! I will def be more careful about that from now on.

Thanks all.
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Old 08-07-2014, 10:27 AM
 
13,648 posts, read 20,773,460 times
Reputation: 7650
Quote:
Originally Posted by DN2015 View Post
I did! The police decided that someone should come out to the neighborhood and look for the guy. I gave a very detailed description, hopefully all will be well.

Allright.
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Old 08-10-2014, 03:59 PM
 
703 posts, read 2,942,410 times
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Apparently this is a very common scam. For me, it was someone claiming to be from Washington Gas once and another time it was Verizon. Basically, aside from the possibility of a burglary or break-in attempt, most of the times, their true motive is to get you to reveal your account number with said utility company to them. Once they have your account number, address, AND a subsequent signature, they would proceed to "switch" your home utility account to another company. This other company gives the scammer a "finder's fee/bonus," while turning around and charging you a substantially higher rate than your current company.

It will then be almost impossible to get back to your former company because the new scammer company would have your actual signature on file. They'll claim you signed a X-months contract with XYZ early termination fee associated.
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