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During the scam, the caller threatens a service turnoff unless the customer purchases a pre-paid card or arranges for a transfer via MoneyGram to pay a bill, officials report.
The company has seen a recent a spike in reports from customers who were contacted by the scammers.
Complaints have come from both residential and business customers.
The callers are not from Con Edison, which does not accept payments of electric or gas bills by pre-paid debit cards, or by MoneyGram or similar transfers, according to officials.
Con Edison believes the scammers are calling customers randomly, not targeting just those who owe back payments.
Police remind the public to be on the alert for callers who ask to arrange for pre-paid debit cards or a MoneyGram transfer as payment for a bill, or request money be sent to an out-of-state address.
Residents are being warned not to arrange payment or divulge account or personal information, including debit or credit card information, over the telephone unless they are certain they are speaking to a Con Edison representative.
Anyone who feels they may have been a target of an imposter or a payment scam should contact the police or call Con Edison at 1-800-75CONED.
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