Police warn of PECO scam

RADNOR TWP., Pa. (FOX 29) - Police are warning of a PECO scam where someone is calling and telling people their bill is overdue. The person says they must pay immediately or their electricity will be shut off.

Christine Kondra, co-owner of Cornerstone Bistro in Wayne, says she almost fell for the PECO scam.

She says the call came on a Saturday, which is the restaurant's busiest day. The person demanded $1,200 that was supposedly overdue. It was be paid immediately.

Her initial reaction was that she could lose thousands of dollars in business if she didn't cough up the money.

Kondra says the caller was very specific about how the money would be paid.

"They said we had to go down to CVS and go get a gift card in the amount of $50, each up to $1,200 and it to be paid in the exact way, not more, not less," she explained.

Kondra says she called her husband, Nick, who is the chef and owns the restaurant with her. They checked their bill online and put the pieces together.

Radnor Township police says residents have also reported this exact scam in recent weeks. Investigators say the caller often sound legit and people fall for it.

"They're just hoping to get someone to slip up," Radnor Township Police Detective TJ Schreiber said.

Police say the cards are often untraceable and the scams originate overseas so it's difficult to get people's money back.

PECO even has a warning about imposters on its website--bottom line they don't operate like that.