Original Air Date: 2/26/14
By: Lauren Hensley
ALTOONA, Pa. -- About a half dozen utility customers throughout Blair County have been calling into Peoples Natural Gas saying there was something fishy about a visit from a few men claiming to work for the company.Peoples Natural Gas Manager of Communications and Community Affairs Barry Kukovich said these individuals moving through the Altoona and Blair County areas and impersonating gas workers.These people were coming to doors and asking to see their gas bills, Kukovich said. In some cases, it was one young man [and] in other cases it was two young men.Kukovich said when the men were asked for identification they would walk away. He said it appears they are choosing their targets at random.Kukovich said a major red flag for customers is when someone asks to see a utility bill.Our workers have no reason to go to a customer's house and ask to see their bill, we simply do not do that, Kukovich said. That is not a utility practice. Our people are always clearly marked in uniform, in cars and with IDs and badges.Altoona police are investigating who is behind this scam.Kukovich said if anyone comes to a home and asks to see a utility bill, call Peoples Natural Gas customer service at 1-800-764-0111.That number is also on your bill and you can refer to it very quickly, Kukovich said.
