In a press release dated May 24, 2012:

Central Hudson warns its customers of a nationwide utility billing scam to commit identity theft and/or steal utility payments. Perpetrators tell residents of a utility bill assistance program authorized by President Obama and funded through the Federal Reserve Bank, however there is no such funding.

“Through phone calls, door-to-door visits, or online solicitation, scammers are asking customers for personal information, such as social security identification numbers, to qualify for the assistance,” said Charles A. Freni, Senior Vice President of Customer Services. “They then provide victims with a bank routing number with which to pay their bills. The routing number is fraudulent, and the payments will not be applied to your Central Hudson bills. There is also an extreme risk of identity theft involved with this scam,” he said.

“While these incidents have been reported in several other states, the scam has not yet been perpetrated in New York as far as we know. You should inform law enforcement officials in your jurisdiction to investigate if you have been victimized or contacted,” said Freni.

Phone numbers and addresses associated with customer accounts are never shared by Central Hudson without permission. Customers receiving personal visits, calls or emails are warned not to provide or verify their utility account other personal information. If uncertain about a caller, customers may wish to note the caller ID information and report the incident to their local police department.

“Please be aware and protect your important personal information and your money,” said Freni.

For more information please visit Central Hudson's website.