Who called from 3012521927

Took a while, since these fools have been calling for almost 2 weeks now and never leave a message or simply hung-up when I picked-up.  Today, I answered on the first ring.  There was a slight pause, then a sound like the call was being directed elsewhere.

"Alex Carpenter", with his caribbean accent greeted me (I could hear many other similar sounding voices in the background).

Told me he was calling about my Washington Gas bill and, "since I use washington gas anyway", I would be qualified to save 10% for two months once I switched to Smart One Energy.  Asked me how that sounded and if that would be ok?

It sounds like a scam, and its NOT ok that you continue to call here and pester me about some unsolicited BS that I never asked for nor wanted...  Alex didn't like my response, and hung-up before I could continue to tell him what I thought about his proposal.

These must be the scammers:

http://www.smartoneenergy.com/

From their webpage:

"As a NY-based company familiar with the energy needs of New Yorkers, it is our mission to help both residential and business customers lower their energy bills. We are also a recognized Energy Service Company (ESC0) in the state of Maryland and work with Washington Gas Utility Company."

Phone: (888) 363.4976
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST Monday-Thursday
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST Friday
Fax: (888) 402.6832
E-mail: [email protected]

Mailing Address:
Customer Service Department
Smart One Energy
4 Rosmel Drive, Suite 102
Monsey, N.Y. 10952

Name registered at that address:
Morris Klein
4 Rosmel Dr Monsey, NY 10952-1410
Age: 45-49

Now calling from a new, spoofed number.  Notice the 014 in the prefix:  Shows you what kind of business you'll be dealing with.  They hide behind fake numbers and refuse to remove you from their list.

See: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-014-1041

This is Smart One Energy.  They use caller ID spoofing, which means that the number that shows up on  your caller ID is not the number they are calling from.  Some of their sales people also say (fraudulently) that they are calling from Washington Gas and that you qualify for a discount on your bill, and that they want to verify your account number.  DO NOT give them your account number unless you want to switch gas suppliers.  They will take it and switch you from Washington Gas to their company, without your permission.  

How did they get your phone number?  Washington Gas provides third party companies with your home phone number as part of the new competitive supplier market.  You can opt out for one year by calling Washington Gas between 9/1 and 10/13 and asking to enroll in "Opt Out" so that your home phone number will not be shared.  You will have to do this every year, however.

Received a call from Smart One Energy today.  Caller had heavy accent I couldn't understand easily.  He transferred me to his manager. Different person, same accent.  Said that he was calling regarding my PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric) bill and that I could save 10% for 2 months and that I qualified because of my usage level.  It would affect only the gas portion of my bill, not the electric portion. Said they were a gas supplier to PG&E.  I asked why PG&E wasn't calling me themselves.  Asked other questions.  They hung up on me.
Did a websearch of their company name.  Found the listing and went to their website - it was "under construction".
Also found this online:
In September 2014, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Smart One Energy, LLC for allegedly using a deceptive bait-and-switch sales model. Specifically, plaintiffs claim, among other things, that the company misleadingly represents customers who switch to Smart One as their energy supplier will save on their energy bill when, in reality, the customers’ energy bill will substantially increase. (Oladapo et al v. Smart One Energy, LLC, Case No. 14-cv-07117, S. D. NY.).