Scam phone calls hitting south Jersey residents

EVESHAM, N.J. (WPVI) -- Police in Evesham, New Jersey, are warning residents to be on the lookout for a phone scam.

Investigators say some of the scam artists are misrepresenting themselves as PSE&G employees.

They call and threaten to turn off electric and gas service unless they receive a payment.

Police say residents should be wary of anyone who calls and demands payment and threatens service termination.

One victim is Norman Brewer, who owns a hoagie business in Marathon. Yesterday at the shop, he got three phone calls from scam artists.

"We were working at a different location yesterday and I got a call from the store saying that Public Service had called and said we had a half-hour to pay a delinquent bill or they were going to shut the electric off," Brewer said.

With his guard down, Brewer got taken for $2,400.

Helen Griffith got a call a few days ago from a man claiming to be from the IRS.

"He said 'We've been trying to get a hold of you for a long time. You owe the IRS money and you've got to get a hold of us right away,'" she said.

But she had been warned about this rash of phone scams and was ready to deal with it.

"As the policeman said, they could call thousands of people, and if they only get a few that will give them some information, they've had a good day," said said.

"I'm embarrassed to death," Brewer said. "I've been in business for 45 years and I can't believe I was that dumb."

If you are in doubt, police say you should hang up and call your utility company directly.

Evesham police ask residents to reports these types of crimes online at Evesham-NJ.gov.