By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Public Service Company is again warning its customers to be on the lookout for conmen pretending to be JPS employees.
The utility company placed a cartoon advertisement in the June 25 edition of The Weekend Star, which warned customers about thieves decked out in JPS clothing.
Winsome Callum, corporate communication manager at JPS, told The Gleaner that "from time to time, JPS issues warnings to customers to be on the alert for persons who impersonate JPS staff and attempt to collect money on the company's behalf."
Ms. Callum reiterated that customers should not pay money to JPS field personnel or the company's disconnection/reconnection sub-contractors.
"All payments are to be done at JPS customer service offices or other authorised payment outlets (such as) banks, building societies, Paymaster and Bill Express," she outlined.
Ms. Callum said on an average of once per quarter, her company is alerted to persons collecting money from customers whose power supply has been disconnected on the premise that this payment would facilitate reconnection.
Since the start of the year, the JPS and the police have managed to dent the operations of these rogues with the apprehension of one impersonator. Albeit, customers are still being cautioned to not let their guard down, as several other conmen are still on the prowl.
The culprits are said to community-hop quite frequently in order not to be traced easily. However, JPS is still advising their customers to be on the lookout.
The utility company is asking its customers who are approached by suspicious persons to report the matter. The toll-free telephone number is 1-888-CALL-JPS or 1-888-225-5577. Customers also have the option of lodging a complaint to the nearest JPS customer service office or the local police station.
