WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Police have accused an energy company’s employee of running a scam involving signature forgery.
James Basilone, of Westmoreland County, is charged with identity theft and forgery.
According to investigators, he and a fellow employee with IGS Energy were illegally soliciting last month in Forward Township.
When one woman declined to switch providers, the pair apparently switched her to another provider anyway.
Forward Township Police Chief Travis Stoffer told Channel 11 that the two requested to see the woman’s current bill and apparently took note of her account numbers. Then, they allegedly created a fake email address for her and forged her signature in order to switch services.
“A little bit less than a month later, she got her bill in the mail, and had a completely different company, with a higher rate on it,” Chief Stoffer told us.
Police hope to get the word out as they expect there could be other victims out there. Chief Stoffer believes the pair have been targeting the elderly.
“We do know from [Basilone’s] interview, that they did hit several homes in the Forward Township area, I imagine the surrounding community as well. So, if any employee from IGS Energy stopped at your house, we’re asking that you contact either our police department or your local police department to inform them.”
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Basilone turned himself in to police on Tuesday night but was released. We visited his Murrysville home on Wednesday. He was in his driveway at the time but declined to comment and shielded his face as he retreated into his house.
Basilone’s alleged accomplice has not been publicly identified yet. However, police expect to charge that individual soon.
Both men have been placed on administrative leave from IGS, according to a spokesperson for the company.
We received the following statement from the Ohio-based company:
“IGS Energy takes this situation very seriously, and we are actively investigating to take the appropriate action. Both employees have been placed on administrative leave while we conduct our investigation. All IGS Energy employees are bound to the highest ethical standards in everything we do.”